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Prior  to  November  30,  1973,  publications  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  have  appeared  under  various  titles  — Leaflet 
Series,  Museum  Graphic , Education  Series , History  Series,  Science  Series,  Study  Guides,  Contributions  in  History,  History 
Bulletin,  Science  Bulletin,  unnumbered  catalogs  of  exhibitions,  and  other  miscellaneous  publications. 

The  publication  program  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  continues  to  publish  a series  of  reports  that  give  accounts  of 
new  discoveries  in  history  and  science  as  well  as  new  advances  in  museum  knowledge.  The  theme  of  the  Natural  History 
Museum  serials  will  emphasize  basic  research  through  the  continuing  active  series: 

Contributions  in  Science 
Education  Series 
History  Series 
Science  Series 

In  these  series,  the  Contributions  in  Science  are  comprehensive  papers  of  imperial  octavo  size  whereas  the  Series  are 
papers  of  variable  lengths  of  quarto  or  larger  size.  Issues  in  each  serial  are  numbered  separately  and  consecutively,  and 
report  on  the  research  and  collections  of  the  Natural  History  Museum,  or  of  research  activity  of  professional  colleagues. 
The  Museum’s  publications  are  distributed  through  mailing  lists  to  libraries,  universities,  and  similar  institutions  throughout 

the  world. 

Acceptance  of  manuscripts  will  be  determined  by  the  significance  of  new  information.  Priority  will  be  given  to 
manuscripts  by  staff  members.  All  manuscripts  must  be  recommended  by  the  curator  in  charge  of  each  discipline  or  by  the 
Editorial  Board.  Peer  judgment  will  be  accomplished  through  the  various  divisions  of  the  Museum  and  by  outside 

reviewers. 


All  communications  concerning  submission  of  manuscripts  should  be  directed  to  the  Editor,  Museum  Publications;  all 
communications  concerning  exchange  of  publications  should  be  sent  to  the  Research  Library;  all  communications 
concerning  purchase  of  publications  should  be  sent  to  the  Book  Shop,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  900 

Exposition  Boulevard,  Los  Angeles,  California  90007. 

Edward  Qstermeyer 
Editor 


Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America  by  International  Printing  Services.  Inc. 


Number  301 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 


NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


A NEW  FISH  OF  THE  GENUS  PHALLICHTHYS 
(FAMILY  POECILIIDAE)  FROM  COSTA  RICA 


By  William  A.  Bussing 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial,  retaining  the  name  Contribu- 
tions in  Science  and  beginning  with  Number  301. 

This  serial  has  been  newly  formatted  for  maximum  use  of  typography  and  illustrations  per  page, 
and  sized  for  maximum  use  of  paper.  All  photography  has  been  produced  utilizing  a 200-line 
screen  for  detail. 

Since  most  institutions  rebind  Contributions  in  Science  collectively  into  hardbound  volumes, 
and  many  researchers  using  them  desire  to  photocopy  material,  two  new  features  have  been  incor- 
porated into  the  new  format.  A suggested  citation  line  provides  the  abbreviated  serial  title,  year, 
number  of  publication,  and  total  pagination,  and  appears  in  the  lower  left  corner  of  each  page;  and 
pages  of  Contributions  in  Science  have  been  printed  off-center  to  provide  a two-inch  gutter 
between  adjacent  pages  for  easier  accessibility  in  photocopying. 


ISSN;  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
History.  Science  Bulletin  (Numbers  1-30;  28  June  1965  to  10  April  1978)  and  Contributions  in  Science  Numbers  1-300;  23 
January  1957  to  16  June  1978)  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial  beginning  with  Number  301. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


3 


A NEW  FISH  OF  THE  GENUS  PHALLICHTHYS 
(FAMILY  POECILIIDAE)  FROM  COSTA  RICA1 

By  William  A.  Bussing2 


ABSTRACT:  A new  species,  Phallichthys  quadripunctatus,  is  described  on  the  basis  of  48  specimens  from  the 
Baja  Talamanca  lowlands  of  Costa  Rica.  The  new  form  is  shown  to  be  closely  allied  to  another  congener,  P. 
tico,  of  northern  Costa  Rica  and  southern  Nicaragua.  Both  species  are  small,  have  sinistrally  asymmetrical 
gonopodia,  and  each  bears  a curved  membranous  swelling  on  the  terminal  element  of  gonopodial  ray  4a.  P 
quadripunctatus  was  collected  only  in  shallow  streams  and  standing  waters  of  the  Rio  Sixaola  basin.  Four 
species  now  comprise  the  Central  American  genus  Phallichthys. 


Phallichthys  and  four  other  genera  with  much  in  common 
morphologically  and  geographically,  were  placed  in  the  tribe 
Heterandriini  by  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1963).  Most  members  of  the 
tribe  occur  in  Middle  America,  a few  are  found  in  western  South 
America,  one  in  southwestern  United  States  and  one  in  Florida. 
The  species  of  Phallichthys  are  largely  restricted  to  the  Atlantic 
versanf  of  Middle  America  (Fig.  1),  although  P.  amates  (Miller) 
was  apparently  introduced  by  man  to  the  Valle  Central  (Rio 
Tarcoles  headwaters)  and  was  recently  collected  at  four  sites  on 
the  Pacific  slope  in  the  Tempisque  and  Bebedero  drainages  of 
northwestern  Costa  Rica  (Bussing  and  Lopez  1977).  Shortly 
after  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1963)  revised  the  family  Poeciliidae, 
Bussing  (1963)  described  Phallichthys  tico  from  northern  Costa 
Rica,  and  subsequently  reported  on  Nicaraguan  material  of  the 
same  species  (1976).  The  present  description  of  P.  quadripunc- 
tatus, also  from  the  Atlantic  slope,  increases  the  number  of  Costa 
Rican  forms  to  three  species.  A fourth  member  of  the  genus,  P. 
fairweatheri,  inhabits  northern  Guatemala  and  part  of  Beliz 
(Rosen  and  Bailey  1959). 

Phallichthys  quadripunctatus  new  species 

Figures  2,  3,  4 

HOLOTYPE:  LACM  36018-  1;  a mature  male  14.6  mm  SL,  collected 
by  William,  Myrna  and  Eric  Bussing  in  a small  tributary  of  the  Rio 
Sixaola,  0.5  km  NE  of  Chase  on  road  between  Puerto  Viejo  and  Bratsi, 
Limon  Province,  Costa  Rica,  on  4 October  1975. 

PARA  TYPES:  LACM  36018-2;  9 males  12.8-15.5  mm  SL  and  7 
females  and  immatures  12.5-20.7  mm  SL,  same  data  as  the  holotype. 
USNM  216559;  3 males  11.7-15.0  mm  SL  and  2 females  14.6  and 
15.9  mm  SL,  same  data  as  the  holotype.  UCR  897-2;  10  males  (2 
cleared  and  stained)  10.3-15.4  mm  SL  and  8 females  and  immatures 
8.8-21.0  mm  SL.  same  data  as  the  holotype.  UCR  1017-1;  8 females 
and  immatures  7.2-32.7  mm  SL,  collected  by  William  Bussing  and 
ichthyology  class  in  a small  tributary  of  the  Rio  Sixaola,  1.2  km  SW  of 
Cruce  Bribri  on  road  between  Puerto  Viejo  and  Bratsi,  Limon  Province, 
Costa  Rica,  on  18  September  1976. 

MATERIAL  AND  METHODS:  The  type  specimens  are  depos- 
ited in  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County 
(LACM),  the  Museo  de  Zoologia,  Universidad  de  Costa  Rica 


(UCR),  and  the  National  Museum  of  Natural  History  (USNM). 

All  body  measurements  refer  to  standard  length  (SL)  in  milli- 
meters (mm),  and  were  made  according  to  the  methods  described 
in  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1959).  All  proportional  measurements  in 
the  text  are  expressed  as  times  in  SL  or  times  in  head  length. 
Body  proportions  as  thousandths  of  SL  and  meristic  counts  ap- 
pear in  Table  1.  The  nomenclature  of  the  gonopodial  system  is 
that  used  in  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1959). 

DIAGNOSIS:  This  small  Phallichthys  is  distinguished  from  its 
congeners  by  the  presence  of  typically  four  conspicuous  spots  on 
each  side  of  the  body  (Fig.  2),  and  an  intermediate  number  of  gill 
rakers  on  the  first  gill  arch  (11-17,  usually  13-16  on  large 
adults).  Males  of  both  the  new  species  and  Phallichthys  tico  dif- 
fer from  other  Phallichthys  in  possessing  a very  long  terminal 
segment  of  gonopodial  ray  4a  (4  or  5 times  longer  than  wide  and 
3 or  4 times  longer  than  wide,  respectively),  which  extends 
beyond  the  other  gonopodial  elements,  and  bears  a fleshy  pad 
dorsally  and  a membranous  hook  at  a right  angle  to  its  axis  (Fig. 
3). 

DESCRIPTION:  Body  moderately  robust,  laterally  com- 
pressed. Body  depth  greatest  at  pelvic-fin  origin,  and  less  in 
mature  males  than  in  mature  females;  greatest  body  depth  in  SL 
3. 2-3. 6 times  in  males  and  2. 8-3. 4 times  in  females.  Predorsal 
profile  slightly  convex  in  both  sexes;  profile  angular  at  dorsal-fin 
origin.  Postdorsal  profile  slightly  concave.  Ventral  profile  of 
body  rounded  anteriorly;  postanal  profile  straight.  Caudal 
peduncle  depth  in  SL  5. 2-5. 7 times  in  males  and  5. 5-6.0  times 
in  females. 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 
Reeve  M.  Bailey 
Robert  J.  Lavenberg 
Donn  E.  Rosen 


"Escuela  de  Biologia.  Universidad  de  Costa  Rica,  Ciudad  Universitaria, 
Costa  Rica;  Research  Associate  in  Ichthyology,  Natural  History  Museum 
of  Los  Angeles  County;  and  Consejo  Nacional  de  Investigaciones  Cien- 
tificas  y Tecnologicas  (CONIC1T)  de  Costa  Rica. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


4 


Bussing:  Costa  Rican  Fish 


Figure  1.  Map  of  Central  America  showing  known  distributions  of  the  species  of  Phallichthys.  Range  of  P . fairweatheri  and  Guatemalan 
distribution  of  P.  amates  from  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1963).  Honduran  distribution  of  P.  amates  after  Martin  ( 1972). 


Head  length  3. 1-3.7  times  in  SL;  head  width  4. 1-4.7  times  in 
SL.  Eyes  slightly  below  dorsal  head  profile;  horizontal  orbit 
diameter  2.3- 3.3  times  in  head  length.  Least  width  of  bony 
interorbital  1.9- 2. 6 times  in  head  length.  Snout  length  always 
shorter  than  orbit  diameter,  2. 9-3. 7 times  in  head  length.  Post- 
orbital distance  2.2- 2.5  times  in  head  length. 

Mouth  opening  dorsally;  overall  width  2. 1-2.9  times  in  head 
length.  Two  rows  of  incurved  teeth  on  each  jaw.  Teeth  of  outer 
row  of  each  jaw  spatulate,  that  is,  with  expanded  flattened  tips, 
apparently  adapted  to  scraping  surfaces.  Teeth  of  inner  series 
sharp-pointed  and  conical,  much  shorter  than  teeth  of  outer 


series.  Teeth  of  both  series  gradually  reduced  in  length  toward 
lateral  edges  of  jaws;  premaxillary  teeth  of  outer  series  not  pres- 
ent at  extreme  edges  of  jaw. 

Dorsal-fin  origin  at  highest  point  on  body;  directly  over  anal- 
fin  origin  in  females,  slightly  posterior  to  origin  of  gonopodium 
of  males.  Predorsal  distance  in  SL  1.8- 1.9  times  in  males  and 
1.7- 1.8  times  in  females.  Distance  from  dorsal-fin  origin  to 
caudal-fin  base  in  SL  2.0-2. 1 times  in  males  and  2. 1-2.2  times 
in  females.  Depressed  length  of  dorsal  fin  in  SL  3. 2-3. 6 times  in 
males  and  3. 6-4.0  times  in  females.  Dorsal-fin  rays  usually  9, 
range  8(1)  and  9 (21),  frequency  in  parentheses. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


Bussing:  Costa  Rican  Fish 


5 


TABLE  1 

Meristics  and  proportions  in  thousandths  of  standard  length  of  the  holotypes  and  10  male  and  10  female 
paratypes  each  of  Phallichthys  quadripunctatus  and  Phallichrhys  tico. 


P. 

Holotype 

quadripunctatus 

Paratypes 

Holotype 

P.  tico 

Paratypes 

Dorsal  rays 

9 

8-9 

8 

7-9 

Anal  rays 

10 

9-10 

10 

9-10 

Pectoral  rays 

1 1 

11-12 

1 1 

10-12 

Pelvic  rays 

6 

5-6 

6 

6 

Caudal  rays 

13 

12-14 

13 

12-14 

Scales  in  lateral  series 

27 

26-27 

26 

26-27 

Total  gill  rakers 

13 

1 1-17 

— 

10-12 

males 

females 

males 

females 

Standard  length  (mm) 

14.6 

12.0-15.2 

17.3-32.7 

17.4 

13.7-17.6 

17.7-32.9 

Body,  greatest  depth 

301 

275-316 

298-352 

298 

255-294 

282-343 

Caudal  peduncle,  least  depth 

185 

175-191 

167-182 

183 

154-180 

158-173 

Dorsal  origin  to  snout  tip 

548 

540-559 

563-598 

528 

470-573 

571-602 

Anal  origin  to  mand.  symphysis 

548 

525-558 

590-638 

557 

496-580 

621-671 

Dorsal  origin  to  caudal  base 

493 

483-507 

464-48 1 

465 

422-483 

431-458 

Anal  origin  to  caudal  base 

541 

517-560 

416-459 

522 

446-528 

395-432 

Head  length 

301 

293-320 

269-306 

298 

267-309 

264-305 

Head  width 

219 

212-230 

214-281 

195 

174-198 

192-215 

Snout  length 

89 

87-99 

92-99 

97 

83-105 

88-107 

Orbit  length 

1 16 

113-133 

83-116 

109 

96-111 

75-101 

Postorbital  length  of  head 

130 

1 19-133 

1 19-139 

137 

1 13-141 

1 15-141 

Interorbital,  bony  width 

144 

117-145 

138-155 

143 

109-148 

136-157 

Mouth,  over-all  width 

123 

108-121 

1 16-138 

1 14 

96-129 

103-132 

Dorsal  fin,  depressed  length 

288 

275-309 

249-280 

264 

244-27 1 

224-257 

Anal  fin,  depressed  length 

445 

431-483 

231-267 

408 

375-457 

203-237 

Caudal  fin  length 

384 

358-392 

300-376 

321 

285-341 

249-331 

Pectoral  fin  length 

267 

263-280 

229-262 

224 

193-228 

181-235 

Pelvic  fin  length 

260 

225-268 

182-214 

183 

145-194 

136-171 

Anal-fin  rays  usually  10,  range  9(1)  and  10  (10).  Preanal  dis- 
tance in  SL  1.8- 1.9  in  males  and  1.6- 1.7  times  in  females. 
Distance  from  anal-fin  origin  to  caudal-fin  base  in  SL  1 .8-  1.9  in 
males  and  2. 2-2. 4 times  in  females.  Depressed  length  of  anal  fin 
of  females  3.8-4. 1 times  in  SL;  depressed  length  of  gonopodium 
in  males  2. 1-2.3  times  in  SL.  Posterior  border  of  anal  fin  in 
females  truncate. 

Pectoral-fin  rays  usually  1 1,  range  11  (21)  and  12  (1).  Tip  of 
fins  extending  posteriorly  to  origin  of  pelvic  fins  of  females  and 
beyond  origin  of  gonopodium  of  males;  length  of  pectoral  fin  in 
SL  3. 6-3. 8 times  in  males  and  3. 8-4. 3 times  in  females. 

Pelvic-fin  rays  usually  6,  range  5(1)  and  6 (21).  Tip  of  fins  in 
both  sexes  extending  posterior  to  origin  of  anal  fin.  Length  of 
pelvic  tin  in  SL  3. 7-4. 4 times  in  males  and  4. 7-5. 8 times  in 
females.  Caudal-fin  rays  usually  13,  range  12  (1),  13  (19)  and  14 
(2).  Length  of  caudal  fin  in  SL  2.6- 2.8  times  in  males  and 
2. 7-3. 3 times  in  females. 


Total  number  of  gill  rakers  increasing  ontogenetically.  Eleven 
specimens  of  12-  16  mm  SL,  including  all  males  examined,  with 
11  ( 1 ),  12(1),  13  (5)  and  14  (4)  gill  rakers  on  first  arch.  Eleven 
larger  specimens  (17.0-32.7  mm  SL),  all  females,  with  15  (3), 
16  (6)  and  17  (2)  gill  rakers  on  first  arch  Scales  in  lateral  series 
usually  26,  range  26  (20)  and  27  (2).  Vertebrae  29  on  two 
cleared  and  stained  paratypes.  Long,  pointed  urogenital  (?) 
papilla  present  on  about  50  percent  of  large  females;  apparently 
non-tubular,  but  serving  to  divide  genital  and  urinary  apertures. 

GONOPODIAL  SYSTEM:  Gonopodium  of  mature  males 
sinistral,  i.e.  rays  3,  4 and  5 of  anal  fin  forming  a shallow 
groove  opening  to  left  side  of  body.  Ray  3 deep  and  compressed; 
proximal  segments  sinistrally  incurved  to  form  ventral  border  of 
trough;  six  subdistal  segments  of  ray  3(1)  forming  long  thin 
spines;  two  minute  terminal  segments  without  spines  (Fig.  3). 
Three  or  four  corresponding  segments  of  ray  3(r)  also  produced 
into  spines. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


6 


Bussing:  Costa  Rican  Fish 


Right  and  left  halves  of  ray  4 symmetrical.  Ray  4a  slender, 
tapering  to  tip;  terminal  segment  much  longer  than  subterminal 
ones  (4  or  5 times  longer  than  wide).  Terminal  segment  of  ray  4a 
forming  tip  of  gonopodium;  a fleshy  swelling  on  dorsal  border  of 
last  segment  from  which  hangs  a pointed  membranous  knob. 
Distal  portion  of  ray  4p  also  slender;  subterminal  segments  of 
each  half  bearing  long  retrorse  serrae;  terminal  two  segments 
without  serrae. 

Ray  5 symmetrical  and  composed  of  an  anterior  half  which 
forms  bottom,  and  posterior  half  which  forms  sides,  of  a square- 
bottomed  groove  on  posterior  surface  of  gonopodium.  Both 
halves  of  ray  tapering  at  tip,  terminal  segments  of  ray  5a  extend- 
ing beyond  end  of  ray  5p.  Right  and  left  halves  of  rays  6 to  10 
symmetrical;  rays  6,  7 and  8 constricted  near  middle  of  ray  and 
split  into  anterior  and  posterior  elements  distal ly;  rays  9 and  10 
split  only  into  right  and  left  halves. 

Ligastyle  of  moderate  length.  Gonapophysis  I curved  antero- 
ventrally,  tip  lying  between  lateral  wings  of  primary  gonac- 
tinostal  complex;  a pair  of  long,  slender  uncini  arising  near  center 
of  gonapophysis  and  curving  posteroventrally  (Fig.  4).  Gona- 
pophysis II  projecting  anteroventrally  between  preceding  uncini, 
and  bearing  a pair  of  posteroventrally  projecting  uncini.  Gona- 
pophysis III  projecting  anteroventrally,  shorter  and  stouter  than 
others;  a pair  of  short,  pointed  uncini  arising  near  center  of  gona- 
pophysis and  directed  posteriorly. 

Gonactinost  1 free,  pointed  tip  directed  anterodorsally.  Pri- 
mary gonactinostal  complex  (gonactinosts  2,  3 and  4)  with  lateral 
flanges  along  entire  length  of  gonactinost  4;  these  lateral  pro- 
cesses flaring  broadly  and  curving  posteriorly  on  distal  third  of 
primary  complex.  Gonactinost  5 lying  between  lateral  processes 
of  primary  complex.  Gonactinosts  6 to  9 free  and  slender  with 
symmetrical  or  dextral  lateral  processes.  Gonactinosts  6 and  7 
slightly  expanded  laterally  at  tips,  gonactinost  7 also  with  a dex- 
tral lateral  flange  subterminally;  gonactinosts  8 and  9 with  tri- 


FtGURE  2.  Phallichthys  quadripunctatus , new  species  from  the 
Rio  Sixaola  drainage,  Costa  Rica.  Above,  the  holotype  (LACM 
36018-  1),  a mature  male,  14.6  mm  SL.  Below,  a young  female 
paratype  (UCR  897-2),  20.1  mm  SL. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


Bussing:  Costa  Rican  Fish 


7 


Figure  4.  Gonopodial  suspensorium  of  Phallichthys  quadripunc- 
tatus,  new  species  (UCR  897-2),  a male  paratype,  14.9  mm  SL. 


angular  dextral  flanges  on  distal  halves;  gonactinost  10  short, 
directed  dextrally,  and  incorporated  into  gonactinost  9. 

SENSORY  CANALS:  Sensory  canals  of  head  poorly  devel- 
oped. Supraorbital  canal  consisting  of  an  open  groove  between 
pores  3 and  4 (Gosline  1949)  and  a closed  tube  uniting  pores  6 
and  7;  an  indistinct  groove  between  pores  2 and  3 and  between 
pores  5 and  6 visible  on  some  specimens.  Preopercular  canal  with 
6 pores  connected  by  closed  tube.  Preorbital  canal  with  two  pores 
connected  by  closed  tube;  a shallow  groove  below  lower  pore  on 
some  specimens. 

COLORATION:  In  live  material  a tenuous  light  blue  irides- 
cence sometimes  apparent  on  posterior  margin  of  dorsal  fin  of 
both  sexes,  and  anal  fin  of  females.  Other  color  traits  similar  in 
live  and  preserved  examples.  Generally  four  conspicuous  subcir- 
cular spots  along  horizontal  axis  of  body  (Fig.  2).  Anterior  spot 
one  scale  row  above  fourth  or  fifth  scales  of  lateral  series; 
slightly  closer  to  dorsal-fin  origin  than  posterior  margin  of  eye. 
Second  spot  one  scale  row  above  eleventh  or  twelfth  scale  of 
lateral  series,  and  below  fourth  dorsal-fin  ray.  Third  spot  cen- 
tered on  nineteenth  or  twentieth  scale  of  lateral  series;  slightly 
anterior  to  posterior  margin  of  dorsal  fin.  Fourth  spot  over 
twenty-fifth  or  twenty-sixth  scale  of  lateral  series;  usually  cen- 
tered between  dorsal  and  ventral  margins  of  caudal  peduncle  or 
slightly  displaced  ventrally.  Individual  variants  (21  percent  of 
specimens  collected)  with  three  or  five  spots  on  one  or  both  sides 
of  body.  Three-spotted  variants  with  first  spot  (4  cases)  or  second 
spot  (1  case)  missing.  Five-spotted  variants  with  extra  spot 
between  spots  2 and  3 (2  cases)  or  between  spots  3 and  4 (8 
cases);  in  these  specimens  adjacent  spots  slightly  displaced  to  ac- 
commodate extra  spot.  Holotype  normal  on  left  side  (Fig.  2), 
with  five  spots  on  right  side.  Four-spot  pattern  present  as  verti- 


cally elongated  blotches  on  newborn  specimens. 

Scale  pockets  edged  in  black,  contrasting  sharply  with  pale 
yellow-gray  ground  color;  belly  and  ventral  half  of  head  white. 
Dorsal  fin  dark  at  base  and  posterior  margin,  clear  between;  large 
melanophores  on  interradial  membranes  of  proximal  third  of  fin 
and  along  distal  one-fifth  or  one-sixth  of  fin.  Anal  fin  with  black 
interradial  membranes;  a conspicuous  spot  at  posterior  base  of 
anal  fin  produced  by  melanophores  on  base  of  last  two  rays  and 
adjoining  urosome.  Gonopodium  of  male  with  small  melano- 
phores along  rays  3 and  5;  an  intense  black  spot  at  base,  and 
along  most  of  length  of  last  three  anal  rays  and  extending  onto 
urosome.  Pectoral,  pelvic  and  caudal  fins  clear. 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  specific  name,  quadripunctatus , refers  to 
the  four  distinctive  spots  on  the  body  of  this  species. 

ECOLOGY:  The  species  was  collected  only  in  two  shallow 
rivulets  and  a roadside  ditch.  Collection  UCR-897  was  made  in 
a clear,  shaded  brook  (0.5  m wide  by  0.1  m deep,  temperature 
26°C,  sand  and  gravel  substrata),  which  also  formed  a stagnant, 
turbid  ditch  (0. 1 m deep,  temperatures  26°  to  40°C,  sand  sub- 
strata). The  fish  were  collected  in  the  strongly  insolated  ditch  in 
areas  where  bottom  temperatures  reached  as  high  as  34°C.  Only, 
one  other  fish  species  was  taken  at  this  site,  a species  of  Rivulus 
from  the  running-water  habitat. 

Collection  UCR-  1017  was  made  in  shaded  and  unshaded  por- 
tions of  a small  stream  (2.0  m wide  by  0.2  to  0.5  m deep,  tem- 
perature 20°C,  sand  and  rock  substrate).  At  this  station  the  new 
species  was  not  common,  or  perhaps  just  difficult  to  collect  with 
dip  nets.  Other  species  taken  at  this  site  were  Phallichthys 
amates,  Alfaro  cultratus  and  a species  of  Rivulus. 

In  an  aquarium  P.  quadripunctatus  is  shy  unless  kept  with 
small,  less  timid  species  in  a heavily  planted  tank.  It  readily 
accepts  small  entomostracans  (Ceriodaphnia  spp.)  and  prepared 
dry  foods. 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  P.  quadripunctatus  is  only 
known  from  two  tributaries  of  the  Rio  Sixaola  in  extreme  eastern 
Costa  Rica  (Fig.  1).  It  should  also  occur  to  the  south  in  Pana- 
manian tributaries  of  the  Sixaola.  The  species  has  not  been  taken 
at  apparently  suitable  habitats  in  adjoining  drainages  to  the  north. 
In  their  respective  ranges,  this  form  and  Phallichthys  tico  are 
sympatric,  and  often  syntopic,  with  Phallichthys  amates. 

REMARKS 

Phallichthys  quadripunctatus  presents  the  diagnostic  character- 
istics of  the  genus  (Rosen  and  Bailey  1959;  Bussing  1963).  In 
general  physiognomy,  size,  and  characteristics  of  the  gonopodial 
system,  P . quadripunctatus  and  P.  tico  share  a number  of  simi- 
larities which  distinguish  them  from  their  congeners:  maximum 
size  (largest  quadripunctatus , 32.7  mm  SL  and  P.  tico,  32.9  mm 
SL  vs.  P.  fairweatheri,  at  least  44  mm  SL  and  P.  amates,  67  mm 
SL);  terminal  segment  of  gonopodial  ray  4a  several  times  longer 
than  wide  (omitted  from  original  description  of  P.  tico ) and  with 
a membranous  pad  at  the  tip;  right  and  left  halves  of  gonopodial 
ray  4 symmetrical;  and  a widely  expanded  primary  gonactinost 
complex. 

Dr.  Donn  E.  Rosen  (in  lilt.)  has  pointed  out  the  similarity  of 
the  fleshy  pad  at  the  tip  of  the  gonopodium  of  P.  fairweatheri 
and  P . quadripunctatus . A similar  membranous  swelling  is  pres- 
ent in  P.  tico.  Dr.  Rosen  suggests  that  if  the  pad  is  a derived 
character  for  the  group,  then  P . quadripunctatus  and  P . tico  may 
be  the  sister-group  of  P.  fairweatheri,  and  these  three  the  sister- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


Bussing:  Costa  Rican  Fish 


group  of  P.  amates.  The  fact  that  P.  fairweatheri , unlike  its  con- 
geners, has  dextral  gonopodial  asymmetry,  may  not  be  a strong 
objection  to  this  hypothesis.  Rosen  and  Bailey  (1959)  noted  that 
a simple  genetic  change  may  determine  the  direction  of  gon- 
opodial asymmetry  and  thus,  would  not  necessarily  signify  a fun- 
damental divergence  between  P . fairweatheri  and  its  congeners. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

It  is  a pleasure  to  acknowledge  the  assistance  of  Myrna  and 
Eric  Bussing,  and  members  of  the  1976  University  of  Costa  Rica 
ichthyology  course  who  aided  in  the  field  work,  and  Reeve  M. 
Bailey,  Robert  J.  Lavenberg  and  Donn  E.  Rosen  who  criticized 
the  manuscript.  The  work  was  supported  by  the  Consejo  Na- 
tional de  Investigaciones  Cientificas  y Tecnologicas  (CONICIT) 
de  Costa  Rica  and  the  Universidad  de  Costa  Rica. 

RESUMEN 

Se  describe  un  nuevo  poecilido,  Phallichthys  quadripunctatus, 
de  Baja  Talamanca  en  la  vertiente  atlantica  de  Costa  Rica.  La 
especie  nueva  es  de  parentesco  muy  cercano  a otra  especie 
diminuta,  Phallichthys  tico,  que  habita  el  norte  de  Costa  Rica  y 
el  sur  de  Nicaragua.  La  nueva  especie,  tanto  como  P.  tico,  se 
encuentran  simpatricos  con  Phallichthys  amates  dentro  de  sus 
respectivas  distribuciones  geograficas.  Una  cuarta  especie  habita 
el  norte  de  Guatemala  y parte  de  Belice. 


LITERATURE  CITED 

Bussing,  W.A.  1963.  A new  poeciliid  fish,  Phallichthys  tico, 
from  Costa  Rica.  Los  Angeles  Co.  Mus.  Contr.  in  Sci., 
77:1-  13. 

1976.  Geographic  distribution  of  the  San  Juan  ichthy- 
ofauna of  Central  America  with  remarks  on  its  origin  and 
ecology,  hr.  Thorson,  T.R.  (ed.).  Investigations  of  the 
ichthyofauna  of  Nicaraguan  lakes.  Univ.  Nebraska  Press, 
pp.  157-175. 

- AND  M.I.  LOpez  S.  1977.  Distribution  y aspectos 

ecologicos  de  los  peces  de  las  cuencas  hidrograficas  de 
Arenal,  Bebedero  y Tempisque,  Costa  Rica.  Rev.  Biol. 
Trop.,  25(1).  In  press. 

Gosline,  W.A.  1949.  The  sensory  canals  of  the  head  in  some 
cyprinodont  fishes,  with  particular  references  to  the  genus 
Fundulus.  Occ.  Papers  Mus.  Zool.  Univ.  Mich.,  519:1-17. 

Martin,  M.  1972.  A biogeographic  analysis  of  the  freshwater 
fishes  of  Honduras.  Doctoral  dissertation.  University  of 
Southern  California.  598  pp. 

Rosen,  E.E.,  and  R.M.  Bailey.  1959.  Middle- American  poe- 
ciliid  fishes  of  the  genera  Carlhubbsia  and  Phallichthys, 
with  descriptions  of  two  new  species.  Zoologica,  44:1-44. 

. 1963.  The  poeciliid  fishes  (Cyprinodontiformes),  their 

structure,  zoogeography,  and  systematics.  Bull.  Amer.  Mus. 
Nat.  Hist.,  126:1-176. 

Accepted  for  publication  April  21,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  301:1-8. 


Q 

11 

L52X 

NH 


Number  302 
March  16,  197'9 


DNTRIBUTIONS  IN 


NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


\ 


HP 


m 

f;  ‘ 


A REVIEW  OF  THE  SERRANID  FISH  GENUS  ANTHIAS  OF  THE 
HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS,  WITH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TWO  NEW 


i;,!, nil, | I'  j 


Bv  John  E.  Randall 


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Number  302 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


A REVIEW  OF  THE  SERRANID  FISH  GENUS  ANTHIAS  OF  THE 
HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS,  WITH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TWO  NEW 

SPECIES 


By  John  E.  Randall 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Key  to  the  Hawaiian  Species  of  Anthias  3 

Anthias  (Mirolabrichthys)  bicolor  new  species  4 

Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  thompsoni  Fowler  1923  7 

Anthias  ( Pseudanthias ) ventralis  hawaiiensis  new  species  and  subspecies  9 

Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  ventralis  ventralis  new  subspecies  12 

Literature  Cited  13 


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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Count}’.  1979.  302:1-13. 


3 


A REVIEW  OF  THE  SERRANID  FISH  GENUS  ANTHIAS 
OF  THE  HAWAIIAN  ISLANDS, 

WITH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TWO  NEW  SPECIES1 

By  John  E.  Randall2 


Abstract:  The  serranid  fish  genus  Anthias  is  represented  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands  by  three  species:  thomp- 
soni (Fowler),  which  is  distinctive  in  lacking  prolonged  dorsal  spines,  usually  having  16  dorsal  soft  rays  and  7 
anal  soft  rays,  and  50  to  58  lateral-line  scales;  bicolor,  new  species,  with  the  second  and  third  dorsal  spines  of 
adults  prolonged,  usually  with  17  dorsal  soft  rays,  7 anal  soft  rays,  57  to  64  lateral-line  scales,  and  males  with 
a thickened  and  pointed  upper  lip;  and  ventralis,  new  species,  with  no  prolonged  dorsal  spines,  usually  with  17 
dorsal  soft  rays,  9 anal  soft  rays,  and  39  to  46  lateral-line  scales.  A.  ventralis  is  divided  into  two  subspecies, 
the  Hawaiian  A.  v.  hawaiiensis,  and  A.  v.  ventralis  from  other  localities  in  Oceania. 


In  their  Handbook  of  Hawaiian  Fishes  Gosline  and  Brock 
(1960)  listed  ten  species  of  serranid  fishes,  of  which  six  belong  in 
the  subfamily  Anthiinae.  Recent  collections  in  the  islands  have 
resulted  in  six  additions  to  the  subfamily,  and  adjustment  is 
needed  of  some  of  the  anthiine  names  in  the  Handbook.  In  a 
revision  of  Plectranthias  Bleeker,  Randall  (in  press)  will  describe 
two  new  species  of  this  genus  from  Hawaii,  one  of  which  was 
reported  as  Pteranthias  longimanus  Weber  by  Gosline  and 
Brock.  In  addition  he  will  record  P.  winniensis  (Tyler)  from  the 
islands.  Pseudanthias  kelloggi  (Jordan  and  Evermann  1905), 
which  is  only  subspecifically  distinct  from  azumanus  (Jordan  and 
Richardson  1910)  from  Japan,  also  belongs  in  the  genus 
Plectranthias.  A collection  of  ten  postlarval  specimens  of  Luzon- 
ichthys  Herre  (BPBM  19926,  26-30.6  mm  SL)  taken  by  mid- 
water trawl  off  Oahu  in  1971  by  Thomas  A.  Clarke  appears  to 
represent  an  undescribed  species.  Description  of  this  form  is  de- 
layed in  the  hope  of  obtaining  adults  of  the  species.  Katayama 
(1975)  described  Caprodon  unicolor  from  Midway.  The  other 
species  of  this  genus  in  Hawaii,  which  has  been  identified  as  C. 
schlegelii  (Gunther)  (type  locality,  Japan),  appears  to  be  unde- 
scribed. The  species  described  as  Caesioperca  thompsoni  by 
Fowler  (1923)  should  be  classified  in  the  genus  Anthias,  sub- 
genus Pseudanthias . Two  new  species  of  Anthias,  one  in  sub- 
genus Pseudanthias  and  one  in  subgenus  Mirolabrichthys,  are 
described  herein.  A paper  on  Anthias  pleurotaenia  (Bleeker),  the 
type  species  of  Pseudanthias  Bleeker  1873,  and  the  distinction  of 
Anthias  and  Pseudanthias  is  in  progress  by  P C.  Heemstra  and 
Randall.  The  subgenus  Mirolabrichthys  Herre  1927  has  been  re- 
vised by  Randall  and  Lubbock  (in  press).  Although  both  new 
species  of  Anthias  were  first  collected  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
they  were  later  taken  at  other  Indo-Pacific  localities. 

The  holotypes  and  some  paratypes  of  the  new  species  and  sub- 
species are  deposited  in  the  Bernice  P.  Bishop  Museum,  Hono- 
lulu (BPBM).  Other  paratypes  have  been  sent  to  the  Australian 
Museum,  Sydney  (AM);  British  Museum  (Natural  History),  Lon- 
don [BM(NH)J;  California  Academy  of  Sciences,  San  Francisco 
(CAS);  Museum  National  d'Histoire  Naturelle,  Paris  (MNHN); 


Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County  (LACM);  and 
National  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Washington,  D.C. 
(USNM). 

Data  in  parentheses  in  the  descriptions  below  apply  to  the  para- 
types if  different  from  the  holotype.  Tables  1 to  3 present  the 
meristic  data  of  the  three  species  of  Anthias.  Tables  4 to  6 consist 
of  the  proportional  measurements  of  the  type  specimens  of  the 
new  taxa.  More  measurements  are  given  in  these  three  tables  than 
are  summarized  in  the  text. 

KEY  TO  THE  HAWAIIAN  SPECIES  OF 
ANTHIAS 

la.  Second  and  third  dorsal  spines  prolonged  in  adults  (espe- 
cially in  males);  front  of  upper  lip  of  males  thickened  and 
moderately  pointed;  lateral-line  scales  57  to  64;  mandible 

naked;  subopercular  margin  smooth  in  adults 

bicolor  new  species 

lb.  No  dorsal  spines  prolonged;  front  of  upper  lip  not  thickened; 

lateral-line  scales  39  to  58;  mandible  scaled;  lower  suboper- 
cular margin  serrate 2 

2a.  Anal  soft  rays  7;  dorsal  soft  rays  usually  16;  pectoral  rays  20 
to  22;  lateral-line  scales  50  to  58;  margin  of  posterior  half  of 

orbit  rimmed  with  fleshy  papillae thompsoni 

2b.  Anal  soft  rays  9;  dorsal  soft  rays  usually  17;  pectoral  rays  15 
(rarely  16);  lateral-line  scales  39  to  46;  margin  of  posterior 
half  of  orbit  smooth ventralis  new  species 


‘Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Phillip  C.  Heemstra 
Robert  J.  Lavenberg 
Roger  Lubbock 

2Bernice  P.  Bishop  Museum,  P.  O.  Box  6037,  Honolulu,  Hawaii  96818; 
and  Research  Associate  in  Ichthyology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County . 1979.  302:1-13. 


4 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


Anthias  (Mirolabrichthys)  bicolor 

NEW  SPECIES 
Figures  1-3;  Tables  1-4 

HOLOTYPE:  BPBM  10146,  99.2  mm  SL,  male,  Hawaiian  Islands, 
Oahu,  Waianae  coast  off  Pokai  Bay,  small  area  of  live  coral  with  holes 
and  ledges,  33.5  m,  quinaldine,  J.  E.  Randall,  P.  M.  Allen  and  E.  S. 
Helfman,  7 September  1970. 

PARATYPES:  BPBM  10141,  1(99.9  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands, 
Oahu,  off  Pokai  Bay,  patch  of  coral  rubble  with  some  live  coral,  27.5  m, 
quinaldine,  J.  E.  Randall,  31  August  1970;  BPBM  10142,  4(76.5-99.2 
mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  CAS  35678,  1(94.5  mm  SL),  same 
data  as  holotype;  USNM  215284,  1(63.8  mm  SL),  same  data  as  holotype; 
BPBM  10145,  1(34.3  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Lahilahi 
Point,  cave  in  27.5  m,  quinaldine,  J.  E.  Randall,  7 September  1970; 
BPBM  19924,  2(26-26.9  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands  off  Oahu  (21° 
20-30'  N;  158°  20-30'  W),  200  m,  3.05-m  Izaacs-Kidd  midwater  trawl, 
R/V  Ter  it  u,  T.  A.  Clarke,  16  September  1970;  BPBM  10173, 
4(82.2-111  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Kahana  Bay,  W side 
at  edge  of  channel,  cave  in  26  m,  rotenone,  J.  E.  Randall,  27  September 
1970;  ANSP  134235,  1(83.4  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  LACM 
35579-1,  1(81  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  MNHN  1974-48,  1(76 
mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  BPBM  13344,  3(27.5-57.5  mm  SL), 
Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Makapuu  Point,  collected  from  salvaged 
vessel  raised  from  68  m,  W.  D.  Madden,  14  October  1970;  BPBM 
15498,  1(29  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Makaha,  ledge  in 
44.5  m,  rotenone,  J.  E.  Randall,  ,L.  Taylor,  P.  M.  Allen  and  A.  Na- 
hacky,  16  June  1973;  BPBM  15877,  4(45.6-63  mm  SL),  New  Guinea, 
Madang,  Rausch  Pass,  S side,  isolated  coral  block  on  sloping  sand  bot- 
tom, 34  m,  quinaldine,  J.  E.  Randall,  18  August  1973;  BPBM  19930, 
1(82  mm  SL),  Mauritius,  W coast,  Medine,  off  La  Fouche,  32  m,  quin- 
aldine, J.  E.  Randall,  19  November  1973;  BPBM  17959,  1(66.1  mm 
SL),  Marshall  Islands,  Enewetak  Atoll,  Lagoon  off  Japtan  (David)  Island, 
small  low-profile  patch  reef  on  sand  in  18  m,  rotenone,  J.  E.  Randall,  P. 
Lamberson  and  R.  McNair,  13  December  1974;  BPBM  18833,  1(72  mm 
SL),  Maidive  Islands,  Villingili  Island,  lagoon  reef,  cave  in  35  m quinal- 
dine, J.  E.  Randall,  18  March  1975;  MNHN  1975-1139,  1(74.5  mm 
SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Makaha,  ledge  in  36.5  m,  rotenone,  J. 
E.  Randall,  P.  S.  Lobel,  J.  Culp  and  J.  L.  Earle,  3 May  1975;  BPBM 
19916,  1(72.3  mm  SL),  Loyalty  Islands,  Mare  Island,  55  m,  P.  Laboute 
and  Y.  Magnier,  20  November  1975;  AM  1.18721-001,  1(65  mm  SL), 
same  data  as  preceding;  BM(NH)  1976.3.15.1,  1(66.5  mm  SL),  same 
data  as  preceding. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Dorsal  rays  X,16  to  18  (usually  17);  anal  rays 

111. 7 or  8 (rarely  8);  pectoral  rays  19  to  21  (rarely  21);  lateral-line 
scales  57  to  64;  gill  rakers  11  or  12  + 26  to  28;  depth  of  body 
2.74  to  3.04  in  SL;  third  dorsal  spine  prolonged  in  adult  females, 
and  second  and  third  spines  prolonged  in  adult  males;  front  of 
upper  lip  of  males  thickened  and  moderately  pointed;  no  papillae 
along  hind  margin  of  orbit;  margins  of  subopercle  and  interoper- 
cle  smooth  in  adults;  pelvic  fins  long,  reaching  at  least  to  anus 
(generally  to  or  beyond  origin  of  anal  fin);  teeth  on  vomer  large; 
patch  of  teeth  on  palatines  broad  (about  10  irregular  rows  of  teeth 
at  broadest  place);  no  auxiliary  scales  on  body;  mandible  naked; 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  naked;  upper  half  of  body  yellow-orange  in 
life,  lower  half  lavender-pink;  males  with  fleshy  tips  of  elongate 
second  and  third  dorsal  spines  yellow. 

DESCRIPTION:  Dorsal  fin  X,17  (17  or  18,  usually  17;  two  of 
27  paratypes  with  XI,  one  of  these  with  16  soft  rays);  anal  fin 

131.8  (26  paratypes  with  7,  one  with  8);  pectoral  rays  20  (19  or 
20;  one  of  27  paratypes  with  21  rays  on  one  side),  upper  two 
unbranched;  pelvic  fin  1,5;  principal  caudal  rays  15  (upper  and 
lower  unbranched);  lateral-line  scales  63  (60  on  other  side  of 
holotype)  (57-64);  scales  above  lateral  line  to  origin  of  dorsal  fin 
9 (8-9);  scales  below  lateral  line  to  origin  of  anal  fin  23 
(21-23);  circumpeduncular  scales  33  (31-33);  gill  rakers  12  + 27 
(11-12  + 26-28);  pseudobranchial  filaments  20  (16-20); 
branchiostegal  rays  7;  vertebrae  26. 


FIGURE  1.  Anthias  ( Mirolabrichthys ) bicolor,  juvenile,  29  mm  SL, 
Oahu,  Hawaii,  BPBM  15498. 


Body  somewhat  elongate,  the  depth  2.82  (2.74-2.96)  in  SL  (a 
little  more  elongate  on  non-Hawaiian  specimens,  the  depth 
2.84-3.04  in  SL);  body  moderately  compressed,  the  width  2.08 
(1.97-2.36)  in  depth;  head  length  3.21  (2.81-3.23)  in  SL;  snout 
3.54  (3.36-4.27)  in  head,  the  front  of  upper  lip  of  males  thick- 
ened, somewhat  pointed,  and  freely  movable  dorso-ventrally;  di- 
ameter of  orbit  4.34  (3.08-4.5)  in  head;  posterior  edge  of  orbit 
without  fleshy  papillae;  interorbital  space  convex,  the  bony 
width  4.17  (3.86-4.4)  in  head;  least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle 
2.15  (2.15-2.84)  in  head. 

Mouth  oblique  and  moderately  large,  the  maxilla  reaching  to 
or  posterior  to  a vertical  at  rear  edge  of  pupil;  mouth  terminal 
except  on  large  males  where  it  is  slightly  inferior  due  to  hyper- 
trophy of  upper  lip.  Posterior  end  of  maxilla  rounded,  its  greatest 
depth  1.2  in  orbit  of  holotype;  no  supplemental  maxillary  bone. 
Upper  jaw  with  a band  of  villiform  teeth  which  is  broader  an- 
teriorly, the  teeth  at  front  enlarged;  two  large  canine  teeth  an- 
teriorly on  each  side  of  upper  jaw  (one  laterally  at  front  of  jaw 
which  is  perpendicular  in  jaw  and  not  curved,  and  a larger  slight- 
ly curved  one  which  lies  nearly  flat  at  posterior  edge  of  the  ante- 
rior band  of  villiform  teeth);  an  outer  row  of  enlarged  teeth  ( 13  to 
15  on  holotype)  on  side  of  jaw,  the  more  posterior  ones  inclined 
forward  and  outward;  lower  jaw  with  a patch  of  villiform  teeth 
anteriorly,  the  front  ones  enlarged;  two  large  curved  canine  teeth 
on  each  side  of  lower  jaw  (one  laterally  at  front  of  jaw  which 
points  outward  and  the  other  about  one-third  back  in  jaw  which 
curves  slightly  posterior);  a row  of  moderate- sized  canines  (14  to 
17  on  holotype)  along  jaw  posterior  to  second  large  canine. 
Vomer  with  unusually  large  teeth  (11  on  holotype);  palatines  with 
a patch  of  villiform  teeth  in  approximately  10  irregular  rows  at 
broadest  place.  Tongue  pointed;  upper  surface  with  scattered  very 
small  papillae.  Gill  membranes  free  from  isthmus.  Gill  rakers 
slender  and  long  (largest  1.17  in  orbit  of  holotype),  notably 
longer  than  gill  filaments  (longest  gill  filament  of  first  gill  arch  of 
holotype  contained  1.5  in  longest  raker). 

Opercle  with  three  flattened  spines,  the  central  one  the  largest 
and  most  posterior,  the  upper  one  obtuse  and  indistinct,  slightly 
anterior  to  lower;  two  lower  spines  acute;  distance  between  tips 
of  two  lower  spines  about  two-thirds  the  distance  between  central 
and  upper  spines;  margins  of  subopercle  and  interopercle  smooth 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


5 


(except  some  juveniles  that  may  have  a few  small  serrae  on  these 
bones);  lower  margin  of  preopercle  smooth;  rounded  comer  and 
upper  edge  serrate  (25  on  holotype);  serrae  increase  in  number 
with  size  (12  in  a 34-mm  specimen,  15  in  a 47-mm  specimen,  22 
in  a 57.5-mm  specimen,  23  to  30  in  four  specimens  from  81  to 
88  mm,  and  36  in  a 104-mm  specimen).  The  27.5  and  29-mm 
paratypes  have  9 serrae  on  the  preopercle,  the  lower  two  at  the 
corner  enlarged,  especially  the  lowermost,  which  extends  slightly 
beyond  posterior  margin  of  operculum;  in  addition,  there  are  two 
spines  on  the  interopercle  (the  one  at  upper  edge  large),  one  on 
the  subopercle,  and  for  the  smaller  specimen,  two  on  the  lower 
edge  of  the  preopercle.  These  two  specimens  are  similar  morpho- 
logically to  the  two  post-larvae  (BPBM  19924,  26-26.9  mm  SL) 
and  clearly  are  transforming  from  the  postlarval  form.  The  post- 
larvae have  the  same  spination  on  the  opercular  bones,  although 
the  two  enlarged  spines  at  the  corner  of  the  preopercle  exhibit  a 
distinct  serration. 

Anterior  nostril  in  a short  membranous  tube  (higher  dorso- 
posteriorly)  directly  anterior  to  middle  of  eye  about  half  the  dis- 
tance from  edge  of  orbit  to  edge  of  groove  separating  upper  lip 
from  snout;  posterior  nostril  large,  situated  diagonally  dorso- 
posteriorly  to  anterior  one,  with  little  or  no  rim;  greatest  diameter 
of  opening  about  equal  to  distance  between  nostrils,  6.5  in  orbit 
of  holotype. 

Scales  ctenoid;  no  auxiliary  scales  on  body;  head  scaled  except 
mandible,  throat  and  gill  membranes,  extreme  front  of  snout  and 
a broad  zone  on  side  of  snout  anterior  to  center  of  eye,  which 
includes  nostrils  in  its  upper  part.  Small  juveniles  clearly  show 
five  diagonal  rows  of  scales  on  cheek  between  orbit  and  comer  of 
preopercle  (plus  a single  scale  just  above  upper  posterior  comer 
of  maxilla);  in  larger  individuals  small  scales,  which  become 
progressively  larger,  develop  between  the  orbit  and  the  larger 
scales  and  near  the  margin  of  the  preopercle;  spinous  portions  of 
dorsal  and  anal  fins  naked,  the  soft  portions  scaled  basally  (scales 
extending  farther  out  on  interradial  membranes  than  on  rays); 
caudal  fin  with  small  scales  covering  more  than  three-fourths  dis- 
tance to  posterior  margin;  pectoral  fins  with  small  scales  on  basal 
third  or  more  of  fin;  pelvic  fins  with  small  scales  on  medial  sur- 
face. 

Lateral  line  a smooth  curve  following  contour  of  back;  last 
pored  scale  slightly  anterior  to  end  of  hypural  plate.  Some  pores 
of  cephalic  lateralis  system  obscured  by  scales;  prominent  are:  a 
pore  in  front  of  anterior  nostril,  one  between  nostrils,  one  medial 
to  nostrils,  two  close  together  in  interorbital  space  above  front  of 
eye,  a series  near  edge  of  orbit  around  posterior  half  of  eye,  six 
on  suborbital  and  preorbital  region  anterior  to  a vertical  through 
center  of  eye,  and  six  in  a mandibular  series  beginning  at  end  of 
lower  margin  of  preopercle  (last  two  on  chin  close  together). 


Origin  of  dorsal  fin  nearer  a vertical  at  upper  end  of  preopercu- 
lar  margin  than  upper  end  of  gill  opening;  third  dorsal  spine  pro- 
longed in  adult  females,  the  length  4.85  to  5.82  in  SL,  more 
prolonged  in  males,  2.42  (2.65-3.21)  in  SL;  second  dorsal  spine 
of  females  7.51  to  8.28  in  SL;  second  dorsal  spine  of  males  pro- 
longed, 3.39  (2.63-2.93)  in  SL;  tips  of  prolonged  second  and 
third  dorsal  spines  of  males  with  a short  fleshy  cirrus;  longest 
dorsal  soft  ray  1.77  (1.79-2.02)  in  head;  third  anal  spine  2.38 
(2.12-2.37)  in  head;  longest  anal  soft  ray  1.23  (1.15- 1744)  in 
head;  caudal  fin  lunate,  the  lobes  filamentous,  caudal  concavity 
3.22  (3.47-3.8)  in  SL;  longest  rays  of  pectoral  fins  (tenth  or 
eleventh)  3.77  (2.9-3.61)  in  SL;  pelvic  fins  long,  2.49 
(2.42-3.09)  in  SL,  reaching  to  or  beyond  anus,  and  well  beyond 
spinous  portion  of  anal  fin  in  males  and  small  juveniles. 

Color  of  adults  and  large  juveniles  in  alcohol  pale  with  no  dark 
markings.  Color  of  male  holotype  when  fresh:  upper  half  of  body 
salmon,  lower  half  lavender-pink;  an  orange-yellow  band  faintly 
edged  in  lavender  running  from  lower  part  of  eye  to  mid-pectoral 
base,  lavender  line  continuing  anterior  to  lower  part  of  eye  as  a 
demarcation  between  orange-yellow  color  of  most  of  snout  and  pale 
pinkish  ventral  part  of  head;  indistinct  pale  red  streak  from  beneath 
lower  part  of  pectoral  fin  to  above  anus.  Narrow  red  area  basally  at 
front  of  dorsal  fin;  dorsal  fin  mainly  yellow  with  indistinct  blotches 
of  pale  blue  in  middle,  margin  lavender,  outer  part  of  second  and 
third  and  nearly  all  of  fourth  interspinous  membranes  red;  fleshy 
cirri  at  tips  of  second  and  third  spines  bright  yellow.  Anal  fin  with 
pale  blue  membranes,  shading  outwardly  to  light  red,  rays  pink,  and 
margin  pale  bluish . Caudal  fin  with  a broad  zone  of  light  red  with  a 
slight  wash  of  yellow  in  lobes,  shading  on  central  and  posterior  part 
of  fin  to  pale  yellow  with  pink  rays;  pectoral  fins  pale  pink.  Pelvic 
fins  colored  much  like  anal  fin,  the  lateral  edge  with  pale  bluish 
margin. 

Color  from  field  notes  of  a 99.9-mm  female  paratype  (BPBM 
101 04 ) when  fresh:  upper  half  of  body  orange- yellow,  lower  half 
lavender  pink  (more  lavender  on  abdomen  and  thorax);  scales  in 
zone  of  integradation  of  color  on  mid-side  with  yellow  centers  and 
pink  edges;  some  irregular  streaks  of  scales  with  yellow  centers 
extending  a short  distance  into  pink  lower  half  of  body;  head  above 
lower  edge  of  eye  orange-yellow,  below  lavender  with  a wash  of 
orange,  especially  on  maxilla  and  rest  of  head  below  and  anterior 
to  eye;  horizontal  lavender  line  between  orange-yellow  and  laven- 
der colors  on  snout;  tip  of  lower  jaw  lavender;  orange  band  nearly  as 
broad  as  pupil  and  narrowly  edged  with  lavender,  running  from 
lower  posterior  portion  of  orbit  to  pectoral  base.  Dorsal  fin  primar- 
ily pale  red,  irregularly  yellow  at  base  (yellow  limited  to  first  five 
interspinous  membranes);  margin  lavender,  and  an  indistinct  sub- 
marginal zone  of  yellow;  rays  of  fin  rose  red.  Anal  fin  light 
lavender-pink  with  some  yellow  areas,  rays  slightly  darker,  margin 


TABLE  1 

Fin-ray  counts  of  Anthias 


species 

X 

Dorsal  Rays 
XI  16  17 

18 

Anal  Soft  Rays 
7 8 9 10 

15 

Pectoral  Rays 
16  17  18  19  20 

21  22 

bicolor 

26 

2 

1 

21 

6 

26 

2 

10  17 

1 

thompsoni 

33 

32 

1 

33 

7 

25  1 

ventralis 

ventralis 

11 

11 

11 

11 

hawaiiensis 

19 

1 

1 

17 

2 

19  1 

19 

1 

Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


6 Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


Figures  2-4.  Anthias  from  Oahu,  Hawaii.  2,  Upper,  Anthias  (Mirolabrichthys)  bicolor,  holotype,  male,  99.2  mm  SL,  BPBM  10146.  3, 
Middle,  Anthias  ( Mirolabrichthys ) bicolor,  female,  83.5  mm  SL,  BPBM  10173.  4,  Lower,  Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  thompsoni,  female, 
126  mm  SL,  BPBM  11290. 


lavender.  Caudal  lobes  rose  red;  upper  and  lower  edges  narrowly 
lavender,  with  traces  of  yellow  submarginally;  centro-posterior  part 
of  fin  light  red-orange.  Pectoral  fins  pale  magenta,  the  membranes 
pale.  Pelvic  fins  pale  yellowish,  the  rays  light  lavender. 

Color  from  an  ektrachrome  transparency  of  29-mm  paratype 
(BPBM  15498;  Fig.  1):  upper  half  of  body  yellow,  lower  half 
lavender;  dorsal  fin  pale  yellow  with  violet  margin.  Pectoral  fins 
lavender;  remaining  fins  pale  with  a lavender  cast,  upper  and  lower 
margins  of  caudal  fin,  filamentous  tip  of  pelvic  fins,  and  tips  of 
longest  anal  rays  violet.  In  preservative,  this  fish  shows  a faint 
concentration  of  black  pigment  on  the  third  interspinous  membrane, 
a smaller  spot  of  the  same  density  on  the  second  membrane,  and  a 
large  but  more  diffuse  one  at  the  rear  base  of  the  spinous  portion  of 
the  fin,  extending  in  about  equal  area  onto  the  body.  In  the  27.5-mm 
paratype  these  same  dark  areas  are  more  evident.  They  are  even 
more  conspicuous  on  the  two  postlarvae  (26-26.9  mm  SL);  in 
addition,  the  postlarvae  have  a blackish  spot  on  the  pelvic  fins 
between  the  spine  and  the  third  ray  about  one- third  distance  from  the 
base  (only  a faint  remnant  of  this  spot  may  be  seen  on  the  27.5  and 
29-mm  specimens)  and  three  less  distinct  blackish  spots  on  caudal 
peduncle  (dorsally,  ventrally  and  at  mid-base  of  caudal  fin). 


REMARKS:  Adult  and  juvenile  specimens  of  A.  bicolor  have 
been  collected  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  Marshall  Islands,  Loyalty 
Islands  (kindly  supplied  by  Pierre  Fourmanoir  of  ORSTOM,  New 
Caledonia),  New  Guinea,  Maidive  Islands  and  Mauritius  in  a 
depth  range  of  18  to  68  m.  However,  I have  observed  the  species 
in  8 m in  Hawaii,  and  aquarium  fish  collector  Anthony  Nahacky 
has  seen  it  in  as  little  as  5 m off  Makua,  Oahu.  This  fish  usually 
is  found  in  the  vicinity  of  caves  or  ledges,  but  not  infrequently  it 
is  encountered  on  small  patch  reefs  where  shelter  seems  minimal 
(even  here  an  unexpected  crevice  generally  will  account  for  its 
presence).  Typically  it  occurs  in  aggregations,  though  these  may 
consist  of  only  a few  individuals.  It  feeds  on  zooplankton,  and 
may  rise  as  much  as  3 or  4 m above  the  bottom  in  feeding. 
Although  it  may  intermingle  with  feeding  aggregations  of  A. 
thompsoni,  it  tends  to  maintain  itself  apart  from  this  abundant 
Hawaiian  species. 

As  in  many  other  species  of  the  subfamily  Anthiinae,  males 
are  consistently  larger  than  the  females,  probably  as  a result  of 
sex  reversal;  also,  they  are  notably  less  abundant  than  females. 
Although  the  differences  in  color  between  the  sexes  are  not  as 
marked  as  in  some  anthiines,  the  greatly  prolonged  second  and 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias  7 


Figures  5-7.  Species  of  the  subgenus  Anthias  ( Pseudanthias ).  5,  Upper,  Anthias  ventralis  hawaiiensis,  holotype,  male,  76.9  mm  SL, 
Oahu,  Hawaii;  BPBM  10560.  6,  Middle,  Anthias  ventralis  hawaiiensis,  female,  51.8  mm  SL,  Oahu,  Hawaii;  BPBM  10159.  7,  Lower, 
Anthias  ventralis  ventralis,  male,  51.5  mm  SL,  Pitcairn  Island;  BPBM  16883. 


third  dorsal  spines  with  a yellow  cirrus  at  each  tip  clearly  differ- 
entiates the  male. 

Two  postlarvae  (BPBM  19924)  were  collected  in  200  m with  a 
midwater  trawl  off  leeward  Oahu  by  Thomas  A.  Clarke  of  the 
University  of  Hawaii  who  kindly  made  them  available  as  para- 
types.  The  tow  was  made  at  2006-2222  hours.  The  net  remained 
open  during  descent  and  ascent,  thus  one  cannot  be  certain  of  the 
depth  of  capture;  however,  the  lowering  and  raising  of  the  net 
required  only  16  minutes  of  the  136-minute  towing  time. 

The  species  appears  to  attain  a larger  size  in  the  Hawaiian  Is- 
lands than  elsewhere.  Four  males  in  Hawaii  range  from  99.2  to 
1 1 1 mm  SL.  Six  males  from  outside  Hawaii  measure  63  to  82 
mm  SL.  This  difference  may  be  due,  at  least  in  part,  to  the  cooler 
water  of  the  Hawaiian  region.  The  largest  non-Hawaiian  speci- 
men, however,  is  the  82-mm  one  from  Mauritius,  also  a cool 
subtropical  locality. 

Named  bicolor  in  reference  to  the  salmon  pink  of  the  upper 
half  and  lavender  pink  of  the  lower  half  of  the  body.  When 
viewed  underwater  in  its  usual  moderately  deep  habitat  (hence 
with  shades  of  red  subdued),  the  back  appears  more  yellow  and 
the  lower  side  more  blue,  thus  enhancing  the  bicolored  effect  and 


making  this  species  easily  distinguished  from  A.  thompsoni.  An- 
ticipating the  scientific  name,  some  fish  fanciers  in  Hawaii  al- 
ready have  begun  to  use  the  common  name  “Bicolored  Bass”  for 
this  species. 

Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  thompsoni  Fowler  1923 

Figure  4;  Tables  1-3 

Caesioperca  thompsoni  Fowler  1923.  B.  P.  Bishop  Mus.,  Occ.  Pap. 

8(7):379  (type  locality,  Honolulu). 

DIAGNOSIS;  Dorsal  rays  X,16  (one  of  33  specimens  with 
17);  anal  rays  III, 7;  pectoral  rays  20  or  21  (usually  21,  one  of  33 
with  22);  lateral-line  scales  50  to  58;  gill  rakers  10  to  12  + 25  to 
28;  depth  of  body  2.7  to  3.3  in  SL;  no  dorsal  spines  prolonged 
(fifth  spine  usually  the  longest,  but  fourth  to  tenth  spines  nearly 
equal);  front  of  upper  lip  of  males  not  thickened  and  not  pointed; 
posterior  edge  of  orbit  with  a row  of  fleshy  papillae;  margins  of 
subopercle  and  interopercle  smooth;  pelvic  fins  short,  usually  not 
reaching  anus  (just  reaching  anus  in  large  males);  caudal  fin  lu- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County . 1979.  302:1-13. 


8 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


TABLE  2 

Lateral-line  scale  counts  of  Anthias 

species 39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48  49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60  61  62  63  64 

bicolor  2 5 4 6 6 2 2 1 

thompsoni  1 1 2687422 

ventralis 

ventralis  1 1 1 2 2 3 1 

hawaiiensis  2 2 6 6 1 2 1 


nate,  the  caudal  concavity  of  large  males  up  to  1.85  in  SL;  small 
villiform  teeth  on  vomer  forming  a broad  V-shaped  (nearly  tri- 
angular) patch;  band  of  teeth  on  palatine  narrow,  consisting  of 
only  two  irregular  rows;  anxiliary  scales  present  over  entire  body; 
mandible  scaled;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  naked. 

Color  in  alcohol  pale  with  no  dark  markings.  Color  of  an  adult 
female  when  fresh:  body  red-orange  dorsally,  with  a yellow  spot 
basally  on  each  scale;  laterally  the  yellow  has  shifted  to  the  edges 
of  the  scales,  and  the  red-orange  color  is  more  magenta;  ventrally 
the  yellow  fades  to  light  lavender,  and  the  scale  centers  to  pale 
heliotrope.  A double  band,  yellow  above  and  magenta  below, 
from  lower  edge  of  eye  to  lower  opercle,  then  turning  upward 
along  margin  of  opercle  to  level  of  upper  base  of  pectoral  fin;  a 
similar  but  faint  double  band  extending  onto  snout  from  front  of 
eye;  a narrow  yellow  rim  on  posterior  half  of  eye.  Dorsal  fin  red; 
membranes  mottled  with  yellow;  margin  of  soft  portion  lavender. 
Anal  rays  salmon;  the  membranes  light  yellow;  margin  of  ante- 
rior half  of  soft  portion  lavender  (to  tip  of  acute  angle  of  margin). 
Caudal  fin  yellow-orange;  upper  and  lower  edges  red,  shading 
outwardly  to  lavender.  Pectoral  rays  salmon,  membranes  trans- 
parent; base  of  fin  yellowish  with  faint  lavender  marking  in  ap- 
proximate V-shape.  Pelvic  rays  salmon,  membranes  light  yellow. 
Color  of  a large  adult  male  is  similar  but  the  magenta  streak  on 
the  head  is  broader  with  a wide  band  of  yellow  on  either  side; 
and  the  pectoral  fin  base  more  yellow  with  the  lavender  V more 
evident;  large  area  of  yellow  on  the  basal  rayed  part  of  fin,  with  a 
faint  broad  outer  margin  of  lavender;  maxilla  pale  yellow,  with  a 
broad  pale  magenta  border;  lavender  upper  and  lower  margins  of 
caudal  fin  and  red  submarginal  lines  are  more  pronounced,  with  a 
faint  posterior  margin  of  lavender  and  red  submarginal  line  in 
central  part  of  fin. 

REMARKS:  A.  thompsoni  is  known  only  from  the  Hawaiian 
Islands.  It  is  common  near  rocky  vertical  discontinuities  in  the 
bottom.  Brock  and  Chamberlain  (1968)  commented  on  its  abun- 
dance in  loose  schools  on  near-shore  escarpments  from  submarin- 


ing observations  off  the  Waianae  coast  of  Oahu.  Strasburg,  Jones 
and  Iversen  (1968)  also  observed  it  from  a research  submarine,  in 
the  depth  range  of  55  to  110  m,  as  did  Clarke  (1972:311)  who 
noted  that  it  was  “seen  frequently  down  to  about  150  m,  but 
never  deeper.” 

Bishop  Museum  collections  of  this  species  have  come  from  26 
to  157  m.  It  occurs  in  water  at  least  as  shallow  as  10  m;  however, 
it  is  not  common  in  the  lesser  depths. 

The  stomach  contents  of  six  specimens,  98  to  119  mm  SL, 
from  three  different  lots,  were  examined.  This  material  consisted 
entirely  of  zooplankton,  primarily  copepods.  Also,  shrimp  larvae 
frequently  were  eaten.  Adults  feed  up  to  several  meters  above  the 
bottom  (exceptionally  as  much  as  9 m). 

On  April  25,  1972  I speared  a jack  (Caranx  melampygus)  410 
mm  fork  length  off  Barber’s  Point,  Oahu  that  had  three  A. 
thompsoni  in  its  stomach  measuring  75  to  85  mm  SL. 

Females  are  much  more  numerous  than  males.  Males  have 
been  observed  in  courtship;  they  elevate  the  dorsal  fin  during  the 
display,  which  appears  to  take  on  a deeper  red  color;  also,  there 
is  a red  band  along  the  back  and  a red  border  behind  the  opercu- 
lum. 

The  holotype  (BPBM  3376,  122  mm  SL)  is  in  the  Bishop  Mu- 
seum and  is  in  good  condition.  Corrections  are  in  order  for  some 
of  the  counts  given  by  Fowler  in  the  description.  The  fish  has  21 
(not  22)  pectoral  rays,  54  (not  58)  lateral-line  scales,  and  28  (not 
27)  lower-limb  gill  rakers.  Fowler  described  thompsoni  in  Caesi- 
operca  Castelnau,  a genus  otherwise  known  only  from  temperate 
waters  of  Australia  and  New  Zealand.  A specimen  of  the  type 
species  of  the  genus,  C.  rasor  (Richardson),  was  examined.  It 
clearly  is  divergent  from  thompsoni,  having  a supplemental 
maxillary  bone  (absent  in  thompsoni),  21  dorsal  soft  rays,  14 
pectoral  rays,  and  a shallowly  forked  caudal  fin. 

The  largest  specimen  of  A.  thompsoni  (BPBM  15443)  mea- 
sures 149  mm  SL.  The  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles 
County  has  specimens  in  two  series(LACM  32242-1,  15:89-144 


TABLE  3 

Gill-raker  counts  of  Anthias3 


species 

7 

Upper  Limb 
8 9 10  11 

12 

21 

22 

23 

Lower  Limb 
24  25 

26 

27 

28 

bicolor 

13 

15 

6 

15 

7 

thompsoni 

2 

14 

7 

3 

9 

15 

6 

ventralis 

ventralis 

2 

9 

1 

4 

3 

3 

hawaiiensis 

1 

14 

5 

4 

7 

6 

3 

3Gill-raker  counts  were  made  on  the  first  arch  and  include  all  rudiments;  the  raker  at  the  angle  is  included  in 
the  lower-limb  count. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


9 


TABLE  4 

Measurements  of  type  specimens  of  Anthias  (Mirolabrichthys)  bicolor 
expressed  as  a percentage  of  the  standard  length 


HOLOTYPE  PARATYPES 


BPBM 

10148 

BPBM 

15498 

BPBM 

13344 

BPBM 

10142 

BPBM 

10173 

BPBM 

10173 

Standard  length  (mm) 

99.2 

29.0 

47.0 

67.6 

88.3 

104.3 

Depth  of  body 

35.4 

33.8 

35.5 

36.5 

34.5 

35.7 

Width  of  body 

17.0 

15.5 

15.0 

17.0 

17.5 

18.2 

Head  length 

31.2 

35.5 

32.0 

33.9 

31.0 

31.9 

Snout  length 

8.8 

8.6 

7.5 

8.7 

8.2 

9.5 

Diameter  of  orbit 

7.2 

11.5 

10.2 

8.5 

7.8 

7.1 

Bony  interorbital  width 

7.5 

8.3 

8.3 

7.7 

7.8 

8.1 

Length  of  maxilla 

16.4 

15.6 

15.1 

15.8 

15.9 

16.9 

Least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle 

14.5 

12.5 

13.6 

15.1 

14.4 

14.8 

Length  of  caudal  peduncle4 

21.0 

20.0 

21.3 

20.7 

21.5 

21.3 

Predorsal  length 

26.9 

29.9 

26.2 

27.2 

25.6 

26.5 

Preanal  length 

62.2 

62.4 

63.5 

65.2 

62.7 

64.2 

Prepelvic  length 

33.3 

36.2 

33.7 

35.3 

33.3 

35.4 

Length  of  first  dorsal  spine 

4.3 

6.5 

— 

4.7 

5.1 

5.1 

Length  of  second  dorsal  spine 

29.5 

13.3 

12.1 

13.3 

12.3 

38.0 

Length  of  third  dorsal  spine 

31.2 

15.5 

— 

20.6 

17.2 

41.3 

Length  of  tenth  dorsal  spine 

10.5 

14.5 

14.3 

13.9 

11.4 

11.9 

Length  of  longest  dorsal  ray 

17.6 

17.5 

17.6 

17.9 

17.0 

17.8 

Length  of  dorsal  fin  base 

65.4 

63.2 

65.8 

63.6 

65.6 

66.6 

Length  of  first  anal  spine 

7.0 

8.9 

8.5 

7.1 

6.9 

8.0 

Length  of  second  anal  spine 

— 

19.7 

17.6 

16.6 

14.2 

14.1 

Length  of  third  anal  spine 

13.1 

15.2 

15.1 

14.6 

13.1 

13.7 

Length  of  longest  anal  ray 

25.2 

31.0 

25.0 

23.4 

24.7 

26.9 

Length  of  anal  fin  base 

18.5 

20.7 

19.5 

19.6 

18.7 

19.0 

Length  of  pectoral  fin 

26.5 

34.4 

30.2 

31.2 

28.1 

27.7 

Length  of  pelvic  spine 

16.1 

21.0 

18.2 

18.1 

16.4 

16.2 

Length  of  pelvic  fin 

40.1 

41.4 

33.4 

32.9 

32.4 

41.2 

Length  of  caudal  fin 

44.4 

52.4 

51.7 

44.7 

40.3 

47.5 

Caudal  concavity5 

31.0 

28.9 

34.9 

29.6 

26.3 

33.7 

■•Measured  diagonally  from  rear  base  of  anal  fin  to  mid-base  of  caudal  fin. 

5Measured  horizontally  between  verticals  at  tips  of  shortest  and  longest  caudal  fin  rays. 


mm  SL;  LACM  32668-14,  17:83-148  mm  SL),  which  are 
nearly  as  large.  These  were  taken  by  trawl  off  Haleiwa,  Oahu  in 
120  m. 

John  E.  Fitch  of  the  Department  of  Fish  and  Game,  State  of 
California,  examined  the  otoliths  from  these  LACM  specimens. 
He  detected  one  presumed  annular  ring  in  the  otoliths  of  four 
specimens  83-95  mm,  two  in  14  specimens  93-112  mm,  three 
in  three  specimens  112-127  mm,  four  in  four  specimens  1 37— 
140  mm,  and  five  in  a 145-mm  specimen.  He  wrote  me, 
“.  . . While  they  (the  otoliths)  are  not  the  best  in  the  world  for 
reflecting  ages,  I feel  reasonably  certain  of  my  readings.” 

Five  postlarval  specimens  of  A.  thompsoni  (BPBM  19925, 
23.4  to  24.3  mm  SL)  were  collected  off  leeward  Oahu  by 
Thomas  A.  Clarke  of  the  University  of  Hawaii  from  the  R/V 
Teritu  in  a 3.05-m  midwater  trawl  at  a depth  of  225  m on  1 1 June 
1971.  The  time  of  the  tow  was  0200-  0416  hours;  the  lowering 
and  raising  of  the  net  required  18  minutes  of  this  time.  These  fish 
have  a very  long  serrate  spine  at  the  comer  of  the  preopercle 
(nearly  as  long  as  diameter  of  orbit),  with  7 to  9 smaller  spines 
on  upper  limb  of  preopercle  (adjacent  spine  somewhat  enlarged 
and  serrate),  and  three  spines  on  lower  limb  (middle  spine  some- 
what enlarged  and  serrate);  also,  there  is  a spine  on  the  subopercle 
and  2 to  5 on  the  interopercle . There  are  no  distinctive  large 
blackish  spots  as  on  the  postlarvae  of  A.  bicolor,  but  there  is  a 


concentration  of  dark  pigment  basally  on  the  third  interspinous 
membrane  of  the  dorsal  fin  and  lesser  dark  blotches  may  be 
found  on  the  lower  part  of  the  second  membrane  and  basally  on 
the  fourth  to  seventh  spines.  Also  a small  amount  of  dark  pig- 
ment may  be  seen  on  some  specimens  on  the  membranes  behind 
the  tips  of  the  second  to  seventh  spines  and  near  the  base  of  the 
pelvic  fins  centered  on  the  first  and  second  soft  rays.  As  in  many 
postlarvae,  there  are  some  fine  dots  of  melanin  over  the  occipital 
region  of  the  head. 

Anthias  ( Pseudanthias ) ventralis  hawaiiensis 

NEW  SPECIES  AND  SUBSPECIES 
Figures  5-6;  Tables  1-3,  5 

HOLOTYPE:  BPBM  10560,  76.9  mm  SL,  male,  Hawaiian  Islands, 
Oahu,  Moku  Manu;  off  N side  at  base  of  drop-off,  49  m,  rotenone,  J.  E. 
Randall,  W.  J.  Baldwin  and  A.  Stark,  9 October  1968. 

PARATYPES:  BPBM  10561,  7(38.3-71.1  mm  SL),  same  data  as 
holotype:  ANSP  134236,  1(62.5  mm  SL),  same  data  as  holotype,  AM 
1.18720-001,  1(49  mm  SL),  same  data  as  holotype;  BM(NH) 
1976.3.15.2,  1(65.1  mm  SL),  same  data  as  holotype;  LACM  35578-  1, 
1(69.4  mm  SL),  same  data  as  holotype;  BPBM  10159,  3(36.3-62.2 
mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Kahana  Bay,  NW  side  of  channel 
at  entrance  to  bay,  ledges  and  caves  in  26  m,  quinaldine,  J.  E.  Randall 
and  P.  M.  Allen,  12  September  1970;  MNHN  1974-17,  1(60.2  mm  SL), 
same  data  as  preceding;  BPBM  10172,  1(52.9  mm  SL),  same  locality  as 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


10 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


TABLE  5 

Measurements  of  type  specimens  of  Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  ventralis  hawaiiensis 
expressed  as  a percentage  of  the  standard  length 


HOLOTYPE  PARATYPES 


BPBM 

10560 

BPBM 

15058 

BPBM 

10159 

BPBM 

10159 

BPBM 

10159 

BPBM 

10561 

Standard  length  (mm) 

76.9 

24.0 

36.3 

51.8 

62.2 

71.1 

Depth  of  body 

37.8 

35.8 

35.4 

34.7 

34.0 

38.4 

Width  of  body 

18.6 

17.4 

15.8 

16.4 

15.6 

18.4 

Head  length 

29.7 

34.5 

33.6 

31.4 

30.5 

30.0 

Snout  length 

7.4 

7.5 

7.4 

7.2 

7.3 

7.7 

Diameter  of  orbit 

7.8 

11.6 

11.0 

9.9 

8.8 

8.3 

Bony  interorbital  width 

8.9 

9.2 

9.1 

8.9 

8.9 

9.0 

Length  of  maxilla 

14.8 

15.8 

15.4 

14.2 

14.4 

14.5 

Least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle 

15.0 

14.1 

15.1 

14.9 

14.5 

15.1 

Length  of  caudal  peduncle 

20.7 

19.7 

19.6 

18.7 

20.2 

19.2 

Predorsal  length 

32.4 

32.1 

33.1 

32.6 

32.7 

32.8 

Preanal  length 

60.2 

63.3 

62.0 

63.1 

61.7 

62.5 

Prepelvic  length 

33.2 

35.3 

33.1 

33.7 

32.1 

33.7 

Length  of  first  dorsal  spine 

5.8 

5.6 

5.5 

5.6 

5.0 

5.3 

Length  of  longest  dorsal  spine 

12.9 

16.0 

15.7 

15.3 

13.4 

13.2 

Length  of  longest  dorsal  ray 

32.3 

18.8 

23.8 

21.8 

26.2 

30.0 

Length  of  dorsal  fin  base 

62.6 

54.5 

61.1 

59.9 

60.0 

60.8 

Length  of  first  anal  spine 

6.2 

7.9 

7.7 

7.1 

6.4 

6.1 

Length  of  second  anal  spine 

12.9 

16.3 

17.2 

15.2 

12.9 

12.7 

Length  of  third  anal  spine 

13.6 

15.8 

16.6 

14.3 

12.9 

12.8 

Length  of  longest  anal  ray 

40.2 

30.8 

30.3 

32.4 

37.5 

39.4 

Length  of  anal  fin  base 

23.4 

22.9 

22.9 

22.3 

22.3 

21.6 

Length  of  pectoral  fin 

30.9 

33.3 

32.5 

31.4 

30.2 

32.1 

Length  of  pelvic  spine 

16.0 

19.1 

19.8 

17.2 

15.8 

15.5 

Length  of  pelvic  fin 

49.7 

37.0 

28.5 

37.6 

43.2 

— 

Length  of  caudal  fin 

32.7 

48.0 

36.3 

35.5 

34.6 

37.0 

Caudal  concavity 

11.8 

24.1 

14.0 

13.7 

12.5 

16.2 

preceding,  rotenone,  J.  E.  Randall,  27  September  1970.  CAS  35679, 
1(41.8  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Oahu,  off  Makapuu  Point,  collected 
from  salvaged  vessel  raised  from  68  m,  W.  D.  Madden,  14  October 
1970;  USNM  215285,  1(43.8  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  BPBM 
15058,  1(24  mm  SL),  Hawaiian  Islands,  Hawaii,  South  Point,  large 
boulders  and  adjacent  sand,  28  m,  rotenone,  L.  Taylor  and  P.  M.  Allen, 
21  May  1973. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Dorsal  rays  X,16  to  18  (usually  17);  anal  rays 
III, 9 (rarely  10);  pectoral  rays  15  (rarely  16);  lateral-line  scales 
40  to  46;  gill  rakers  7 to  9 + 22  to  25;  depth  of  body  2.37-2.94 
in  SL;  no  dorsal  spines  prolonged  (fifth  spine  usually  the  longest, 
but  fourth  to  tenth  nearly  as  long);  front  of  upper  lip  of  males  not 
thickened  and  pointed;  no  papillae  along  rim  of  posterior  half  of 
eye;  margin  of  subopercle  serrate,  and  a few  serrae  may  be  pres- 
ent on  upper  posterior  edge  of  interopercle;  pelvic  fins  long, 
reaching  well  beyond  origin  of  anal  fin  (entirely  beyond  base  of 
fin  in  adult  males);  a few  small  teeth  on  vomer  in  an  approxi- 
mately triangular  patch;  band  of  teeth  on  palatines  narrow,  con- 
sisting of  two  or  three  irregular  rows;  a few  auxiliary  scales  dor- 
sally  on  body;  mandible  scaled;  dorsal  and  anal  fins  scaled  except 
distally.  Color  as  in  figures  5 and  6,  the  most  conspicuous  feature 
being  the  yellow  of  the  upper  half  of  the  head  with  a few  short 
lines  of  violet  or  magenta  behind  and  above  the  eye. 

DESCRIPTION:  Dorsal  fin  X,17  (X,17  except  one  paratype 
with  XI, 18,  one  with  X,18,  and  one  with  X , 16);  anal  fin  III, 9 
(one  of  19  paratypes  with  10);  pectoral  rays  15  (one  of  paratypes 
with  16),  upper  one  or  two  and  lowermost  unbranched;  pelvic  fin 


1,5;  principal  caudal  rays  15  (upper  and  lower  unbranched); 
lateral-line  scales  42  (40-46);  scales  above  lateral  line  to  origin 
of  dorsal  fin  5;  scales  below  lateral  line  to  origin  of  anal  fin  19 
(18-20);  circumpeduncular  scales  22;  gill  rakers  8 + 25  (17-9  + 
22-25);  pseudobranchial  filaments  11  (10-12);  branchiostegal 
rays  7;  vertebrae  26. 

Body  depth  variable,  2.65  (2.37-2.94)  in  SL;  body  moder- 
ately compressed,  the  width  2.03  (2.04-2.25)  in  depth;  head 
length  3.37  (2.9-3.33)  in  SL;  snout  4.02  (3. 9-4. 6)  in  head; 
front  of  upper  lip  of  males  not  thickened  and  not  pointed  (contour 
of  front  of  upper  lip  when  viewed  from  above  varying  from 
slightly  convex  to  flat);  diameter  of  orbit  3.81  (2.97-3.6)  in 
head;  posterior  edge  of  orbit  without  fleshy  papillae;  interorbital 
space  smoothly  convex,  the  bony  width  3.34  (3.33-3.75)  in 
head;  least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  1.98  (1.98-2.44)  in  head. 

Mouth  oblique  and  moderately  large,  the  maxilla  reaching 
posterior  to  a vertical  at  center  of  eye  and  often  to  or  slightly 
beyond  a vertical  at  posterior  edge  of  pupil;  lower  jaw  projecting 
slightly  when  mouth  closed;  upper  posterior  comer  of  maxilla 
more  broadly  rounded  than  lower;  greatest  depth  of  maxilla  2 in 
orbit  of  holotype;  no  supplemental  maxillary  bone.  Upper  jaw 
with  inner  row  of  villiform  teeth  of  moderate  size  broadening  to  a 
maximum  of  about  4 rows  anteriorly,  the  innermost  and  most 
medial  of  these  teeth  notably  enlarged,  lying  nearly  flat,  and  di- 
rected inward;  a canine  laterally  at  front  of  upper  jaw,  followed 
by  a row  of  13  teeth  along  side  of  jaw,  which  are  about  as  long 
as  front  canine  but  more  slender;  posterior  ones  pointing  forward; 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


11 


TABLE  6 

Measurements  of  type  specimens  of  Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  ventralis  ventralis 
expressed  as  a percentage  of  the  standard  length 


HOLOTYPE 

BPBM 

16883 

BPBM 

13530 

PARATYPES 

BPBM 

13530 

BPBM 

13530 

BPBM 

19895 

Standard  length  (mm) 

51.5 

20.4 

31.8 

50.8 

54.3 

Depth  of  body 

35.1 

32.9 

32.0 

33.4 

33.4 

Width  of  body 

16.5 

15.7 

15.7 

16.7 

16.2 

Head  length 

31.5 

36.8 

33.4 

31.8 

33.0 

Snout  length 

7.8 

7.9 

7.6 

7.7 

7.7 

Diameter  of  orbit 

10.3 

12.5 

11.3 

9.6 

9.6 

Bony  interorbital  width 

8.8 

9.0 

8.5 

8.9 

8.7 

Length  of  maxilla 

14.5 

15.7 

14.1 

14.9 

14.9 

Least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle 

14.4 

13.7 

14.6 

14.3 

14.2 

Length  of  caudal  peduncle 

18.9 

19.4 

20.4 

19.2 

18.6 

Predorsal  length 

33.2 

34.8 

33.1 

33.2 

32.3 

Preanal  length 

61.0 

63.7 

63.1 

60.3 

61.7 

Prepelvic  length 

33.2 

36.6 

34.0 

33.0 

33.2 

Length  of  first  dorsal  spine 

6.2 

6.3 

5.8 

6.1 

6.2 

Length  of  longest  dorsal  spine 

13.4 

16.2 

15.7 

13.9 

13.1 

Length  of  longest  dorsal  ray 

27.0 

18.1 

17.7 

29.7 

29.5 

Length  of  dorsal  fin  base 

60.2 

53.9 

56.8 

61.0 

58.2 

Length  of  first  anal  spine 

7.4 

7.8 

7.7 

7.3 

7.1 

Length  of  second  anal  spine 

14.4 

15.7 

15.7 

13.8 

14.0 

Length  of  third  anal  spine 

13.8 

15.7 

15.4 

13.8 

13.3 

Length  of  longest  anal  ray 

35.4 

21.5 

25.1 

32.6 

40.8 

Length  of  anal  fin  base 

21.4 

22.5 

22.1 

22.0 

21.8 

Length  of  pectoral  fin 

32.4 

30.6 

32.1 

33.4 

32.6 

Length  of  pelvic  spine 

16.7 

19.7 

17.9 

17.1 

16.4 

Length  of  pelvic  fin 

39.3 

29.4 

29.2 

44.7 

54.3 

Length  of  caudal  fin 

38.3 

— 

37.8 

— 

43.7 

Caudal  concavity 

17.8 

— 

15.7 

— 

21.5 

a pair  of  moderate  canines  anteriorly  in  lower  jaw  that  project 
slightly  forward;  two  to  three  rows  of  smaller,  incurved  teeth 
medial  to  anterior  canines;  four  or  five  strongly  retrorse  canines 
along  side  of  anterior  third  of  lower  jaw;  posterior  to  these  are  a 
series  of  uniformly  large  teeth  (six  on  one  side  of  holotype,  nine 
on  other)  that  point  forward  strongly,  these  closely  associated 
with  an  outer  row  of  smaller  more  slender  teeth.  Teeth  on  vomer 
small,  in  a patch  of  approximately  triangular  shape;  a narrow 
band  of  two  or  three  rows  of  small  teeth  on  palatines.  Tongue 
pointed.  Gill  membranes  free  from  isthmus.  Gill  rakers  slender 
and  long,  about  as  long  as  longest  gill  filaments;  length  of  the 
longest  contained  1.6  times  in  diameter  of  orbit  of  holotype. 

Opercle  with  three  flattened  spines;  the  central  one  the  largest 
and  most  posterior;  the  upper  spine  obtuse  and  indistinct,  slightly 
anterior  to  lower;  two  lower  spines  acute,  distance  between  their 
tips  generally  about  three-fourths  distance  between  central  and 
upper  spines.  Lower  edge  of  preopercle  smooth;  upper  edge 
finely  serrate  (25  serrae  on  holotype;  number  of  serrae  variable, 
but  tending  to  increase  with  size;  paratypes  from  24  to  42  mm  SL 
have  16  to  23  serrae  whereas  those  over  50  mm  have  22  to  36); 
ventral  edge  of  subopercle  with  14  (4  to  14)  serrae;  interopercle 
with  4 (0-4)  serrae  near  upper  end. 

Anterior  nostril  in  a membranous  tube  (higher  dorsoposterior- 
ly)  directly  anterior  to  middle  of  eye  and  about  halfway  between 
edge  of  orbit  and  groove  separating  upper  lip  from  rest  of  snout; 
posterior  nostril  large,  dorso-posterior  to  anterior  one,  roughly 
semicircular,  and  without  a rim;  its  greatest  diameter  nearly 


equals  its  distance  from  anterior  nostril  (about  6 in  diameter  of 
orbit  of  holotype). 

Scales  ctenoid;  some  auxiliary  scales  may  be  present  on  nape 
and  body  dorsal  to  lateral  line.  Head  scaled  except  throat,  gill 
membranes,  extreme  front  of  snout,  and  a broad  zone  of  snout 
from  level  of  lower  edge  of  eye  to  above  nostrils.  Dorsal  and  anal 
fins  with  scales  on  about  basal  half  (ignoring  prolonged  rays  and 
associated  membranes);  caudal  fin  with  small  scales  extending 
about  three-fourths  distance  to  posterior  margin;  pectoral  fins 
scaled  on  about  basal  third;  pelvic  fins  scaled  on  medial  surface, 
the  scales  on  first  ray  extending  slightly  beyond  the  pelvic  spine. 

Lateral  line  a little  more  strongly  arched  than  upper  contour  of 
body,  reaching  highest  point  below  posterior  half  of  spinous  por- 
tion of  dorsal  fin;  last  pored-scale  of  lateral  line  just  anterior  to 
posterior  edge  of  hypural  plate.  Pores  of  cephalic  lateralis  system 
similar  to  those  of  A.  bicolor. 

Origin  of  dorsal  fin  above  (or  slightly  anterior  or  posterior)  to 
upper  end  of  gill  opening;  no  dorsal  spines  prolonged;  fifth  dorsal 
spine  usually  the  longest,  2.3  (2.05-2.28)  in  head;  a small  cirrus 
behind  tip  of  each  dorsal  spine;  twelfth  dorsal  soft  ray  (and  to  a 
lesser  extent  adjacent  rays)  prolonged  (except  in  small  juveniles), 
its  length  3.1  (3.33  to  4.2)  in  SL;  third  anal  spine  2.18  (2.02- 
2.36)  in  head;  fourth  anal  soft  ray  (and  to  a lesser  extent  adja- 
cent rays)  greatly  prolonged,  its  length  2.49  (2.54-3.3)  in  SL; 
caudal  fin  deeply  emarginate,  the  caudal  concavity  2.52  (1.43- 
2.44)  in  head;  longest  ray  of  pectoral  fins  (ninth)  3.24  (3.0- 
3.31)  in  SL;  second  pelvic  ray  (and  to  a lesser  extent  adjacent 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


12 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


rays)  greatly  prolonged,  reaching  beyond  spinous  portion  of  anal 
fin  and  often  posterior  to  base  of  fin,  the  ray  length  2.01  (2.17- 
3.51)  in  SL. 

Color  in  alcohol  pale  with  no  dark  markings.  Color  of  holotype 
and  other  large  males  when  fresh  (from  field  notes):  anterior  part 
of  body  orange,  dotted  with  magenta,  shading  to  light  yellowish 
with  a lavender  wash  on  thorax  and  abdomen,  and  to  violet  pos- 
teriorly. Upper  half  of  head  yellow  with  dotted  lines  of  magenta 
as  follows:  from  snout  in  front  of  eye  through  upper  edge  of  eye 
and  passing  dorsally  to  nape,  from  behind  eye  along  upper  edge 
of  opercle,  from  in  front  of  lower  part  of  eye  through  lower  edge 
of  eye  and  across  middle  of  operculum  to  middle  opercular  spine; 
lower  half  of  head  varying  from  light  yellowish  to  pale  lavender. 
Dorsal  fin  orange,  edged  with  magenta  (except  posteriorly);  rear 
basal  part  nearly  colorless;  anal  fin  with  anterior  part  (including 
prolonged  rays)  orange,  posterior  portion  yellow,  the  two  regions 
separated  by  a magenta  line;  caudal  fin  yellow-orange,  shading  to 
magenta  in  broad  median  posterior  part  of  fin;  pectoral  fins  pale 
orangish  with  a large  magenta-edged  orange  spot  on  base;  pelvic 
fins  orange  with  a little  magenta  on  leading  edge  of  spine;  isthmus 
yellow-orange  (see  Fig.  5). 

Color  of  females  when  fresh  similar  but  body  mostly  yellow 
instead  of  orange,  the  yellow  unmarked  dorsally,  over  posterior 
part  of  caudal  peduncle  and  most  of  caudal  fin;  ventral  half  of 
body  lavender;  magenta  lines  on  head  more  solid  (and  hence 
more  evident)  on  females  than  males;  anal  fin  almost  entirely 
yellow,  lacking  the  striking  two-tone  coloration  with  magenta  di- 
vision of  the  male;  yellow  spot  at  base  of  pectoral  fin  not  as 
conspicuous  as  the  orange  basal  spot  on  the  fin  of  the  male  (see 
Fig.  6). 

REMARKS:  The  Hawaiian  population  of  Anthias  ventralis  is 
sufficiently  distinct  to  warrant  subspecific  recognition,  hence 
hawaiiensis.  See  “Remarks”  of  A.  v.  ventralis  for  discussion  of 
differences. 

The  Hawaiian  subspecies  was  collected  in  the  depth  range  of 
26  to  68  m.  Nearly  all  specimens  were  taken  from  caves  or  be- 
neath well-formed  ledges.  They  are  more  closely  tied  to  the  sub- 
stratum than  the  other  two  Anthias  in  Hawaii  and  are  often  seen 
swimming  upside  down  near  the  roof  of  caves.  They  venture  out 
for  feeding  on  zooplankton  (mainly  copepods,  but  also  other 
crustacean  larvae,  fish  eggs,  mollusk  larvae,  polychaete  larvae, 
etc.). 

This  species  is  a good  aquarium  fish,  though  not  often  caught 
due  to  its  deep-dwelling  habits.  It  is  hardier  than  the  other  two 
Hawaiian  Anthias  in  aquaria. 

Named  ventralis  in  reference  to  the  striking  prolongation  of  the 
pelvic  and  anal  fins. 

The  common  name  “Longfin  Bass”  is  proposed  for  this 
species. 

Anthias  (Pseudanthias)  ventralis  ventralis 

NEW  SUBSPECIES 
Figure  7;  Tables  1-3,  6 

HOLOTYPE:  BPBM  16883,  51.5  mm  SL,  male,  Pitcairn  Island, 
patch  reef  on  N side  off  Gannet  Ridge,  40  to  44  m,  rotenone,  J.  E. 
Randall,  D.  B.  Cannoy,  I.  R.  Haywood,  R.  R.  Costello,  J.  D.  Bryant 
and  S.  Christian,  6 January  1971. 

PARATYPES:  BPBM  13530,  8(18.2-50.8  mm  SL),  Tuamotu  Ar- 
chipelago, Gambier  Group,  Temoe  Atoll,  outside  reef  on  N side,  isolated 
dead  coral  block  on  sand  near  fringing  reef,  41.3  m,  rotenone,  J.  E. 
Randall,  D.  B.  Cannoy,  R.  McNair  and  R.  R.  Costello,  16  December 


1970;  BM(NH)  1973.3.5.1,  1(29.4  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding; 
LACM  35586-  1,  1(21  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  USNM  215289, 
1(29.8  mm  SL),  same  data  as  preceding;  BPBM  19895,  1(54.3  mm  SL), 
New  Caledonia,  false  pass  Uitoe  (about  3 km  N of  Dumbea  Pass),  55  m, 
bottom  mainly  coral  rubble,  rotenone,  P.  Laboute  and  Y.  Magnier,  5 
November  1975. 

DIAGNOSIS:  As  in  Anthias  ventralis  hawaiiensis,  except  for 
slightly  lower  gill-raker  counts  (see  Table  3),  more  interopercu- 
lar  serrae,  smaller  size  and  color  (see  below). 

DESCRIPTION:  Dorsal  rays  X,17;  anal  rays  III, 9;  pectoral 
rays  15  (upper  one  or  two  and  lower  one  or  two  unbranched); 
pelvic  rays  1,5;  principal  caudal  rays  15  (upper  and  lower  un- 
branched); lateral-line  scales  44  (39-46);  scales  above  lateral  line 
to  origin  of  dorsal  fin  5 (4  or  5);  scales  below  lateral  line  to 
origin  of  anal  fin  19  (18-19);  circumpeduncular  scales  22  (20- 
22);  gill  rakers  8 -I-  24  (7-8  + 21-24);  pseudobranchial  fila- 
ments 10  (9-10);  branchiostegal  rays  7;  vertebrae  26. 

Body  depth  2.85  (2.86-3.13)  in  SL;  width  of  body  2.13 
(2.0-2.09)  in  depth;  head  length  3.17  (2.72-3.14)  in  SL;  snout 
4.05  (4.14-4.67)  in  head;  front  of  upper  lip  of  males  not  thick- 
ened and  not  pointed;  diameter  of  orbit  3.08  (2.94-3.43)  in 
head;  interorbital  space  convex,  the  bony  width  3.58  (3.58-3.93) 
in  head;  least  depth  of  caudal  peduncle  2.19  (2.22-2.67)  in 
head. 

Dentition  similar  to  A.  v.  hawaiiensis:  14  large  teeth  along  one 
side  of  upper  jaw  of  holotype,  and  15  on  the  other;  more  small 
teeth  posterior  to  large  ones  on  side  of  lower  jaw  than  in 
hawaiiensis.  Tongue,  gill  rakers,  nostrils  and  head  pores  compa- 
rable to  hawaiiensis . 

Opercular  spines  and  serrae  of  preopercle  and  subopercle  as  in 
A.  v.  hawaiiensis:  holotype  with  24  serrae  on  preopercle  and  9 on 
subopercle.  There  are,  however,  usually  more  serrae  on  the  aver- 
age on  the  interopercle  of  A.  v.  ventralis  (4  on  holotype  and  1 to 
6 on  paratypes). 

Squamation  similar  to  A.  v.  hawaiiensis  except  there  are  very 
few  auxiliary  scales  on  dorsal  body  scales,  and  small  scales  do 
not  extend  as  far  out  on  the  median  fins. 

Origin  of  dorsal  fin  above  upper  end  of  gill  opening;  no  dorsal 
spines  prolonged;  fifth  to  ninth  dorsal  spines  the  longest,  2.37 
(2.13-2.52)  in  head;  a small  cirrus  behind  tip  of  each  dorsal 
spine;  twelfth  dorsal  soft  ray,  and  to  a lesser  extent  the  eleventh 
and  thirteenth,  prolonged  in  adults,  its  length  3.7  (3.37-5.65)  in 
SL;  third  anal  spine  2.28  (2.17-2.47)  in  head;  fourth  anal  soft 
ray,  and  to  a lesser  extent  third  and  fifth  rays,  prolonged,  2.83 
(2.45-4.65)  in  SL;  caudal  fin  deeply  emarginate,  the  caudal  con- 
cavity 1.77  (1.53-2.12)  in  head;  longest  ray  of  pectoral  fins 
(ninth)  3.09  (3.0-3.27)  in  SL;  second  pelvic  ray,  and  to  a lesser 
extent  adjacent  rays,  greatly  prolonged,  reaching  beyond  spinous 
portion  of  anal  fin  and  in  some  larger  individuals  posterior  to  rear 
base  of  anal  fin,  the  ray  length  2.54  (2.24-3.42)  in  SL. 

Color  in  alcohol  uniform  pale  with  no  dark  markings.  Color  of 
holotype  and  other  males  when  fresh:  orange-yellow  with  small 
spots  of  lavender  dorsally,  shading  to  lavender  on  sides  (zone  of 
intergradation,  especially  anteriorly,  with  yellow  streaks  extend- 
ing ventrally  into  lavender  zone  and  vice  versa),  and  to  pale  yel- 
low ventrally.  Snout,  tip  of  chin,  and  postorbital  part  of  head 
above  level  of  center  of  eye  bright  yellow;  lower  part  of  head  and 
all  of  thorax  pale  yellow;  deep  yellow  streak  mid-ventrally  on 
head;  broken  line  of  lavender  running  from  upper  lip  to  eye;  hori- 
zontal lavender  band  behind  eye  separating  upper  bright  yellow 
and  lower  pale  yellow  of  head;  an  arc  of  lavender  beginning  on 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


Randall:  Hawaiian  Anthias 


13 


opercle  anterior  to  gill  opening,  rimming  upper  gill  opening  and 
joining  posterior  end  of  horizontal  lavender  line  of  postorbital 
head;  broken  lavender  line  on  nape  from  upper  edge  of  orbit  to 
origin  of  dorsal  fin.  Dorsal  fin  yellow  with  a few  small  lavender 
spots  basally;  spines  and  adjacent  membrane  tips  magenta;  an- 
terior margin  of  soft  portion  lavender;  faint  diagonal  light  blue 
line  in  fin  running  in  part  on  eleventh  to  thirteenth  soft  rays;  anal 
fin  with  a broad  yellow-orange  streak  edged  in  lavender  from 
origin  of  fin  to  tip  of  prolonged  fourth  ray;  remainder  of  fin  light 
yellow;  caudal  fin  light  yellow  with  lavender  upper  and  lower 
margins  basally,  shifting  to  light  blue  distally;  posterior  edge  of 
caudal  fin  in  central  part  with  faint  light  blue  margin;  faint  wavy 
vertical  dark-edged  light  blue  band  near  middle  of  caudal  fin; 
pectoral  fins  light  yellowish  with  large  semicircular  yellow- 
orange  spot  edged  in  lavender  at  base;  pelvic  fins  yellow,  deeper 
yellow  laterally,  with  lavender  lateral  margin.  Iris  yellow  with 
two  broad  diagonal  streaks  of  blue  (dorso-anterior  and  ventro- 
posterior  to  pupil). 

Color  of  a 33-mm  female  from  the  atoll  of  Temoe,  Tuamotu 
Archipelago  when  fresh:  body  light  magenta  dorsally,  shading  to 
pale  lavender  ventrally  and  white  on  abdomen  and  thorax  (laven- 
der mid-ventrally),  except  for  a zone  of  bright  yellow  above  a 
line  of  demarcation  from  mid-base  of  dorsal  fin  to  lower  base  of 
caudal  fin  (a  deep  orange  streak  separates  the  yellow  and 
magenta  from  below  base  of  fifth  soft  dorsal  ray  to  anterior 
caudal  peduncle).  Tip  of  lower  jaw  and  front  of  snout  bright  yel- 
low; upper  postorbital  head  light  magenta;  prominent  V-shaped 
mark  of  deep  yellow,  edged  with  orange  from  apex  at  origin  of 
dorsal  fin  to  dorso-posterior  edge  of  orbit  of  either  side.  Dorsal  fin 
bright  yellow;  spines  tipped  with  magenta;  margin  of  anterior  soft 
portion  of  fin  lavender;  anal  fin  similar  but  entire  fin  becoming 
lavender  posteriorly;  caudal  fin  light  yellow,  the  upper  and  lower 
edges  narrowly  magenta;  pectoral  fins  pale;  pelvic  fins  pale  with 
a broad  deep  yellow  streak  on  first  to  third  soft  rays  and  as- 
sociated membranes. 

REMARKS:  A.  v.  ventralis  has  been  collected  in  the  Pitcairn 
Group,  Tuamotu  Archipelago,  and  New  Caledonia  from  40  to  55 
m.  In  addition,  my  associates  and  I obtained  one  specimen  in 
46  m from  a cave  in  a vertical  drop-off  at  the  west  end  of 
Enewetak  Atoll,  Marshall  Islands  on  July  5,  1975.  This  specimen 
is  unusual  in  having  five  opercular  spines  on  one  side  and  four  on 
the  other,  instead  of  the  usual  three,  and  mainly  for  this  reason  it 
is  not  regarded  as  a paratype.  In  other  respects  it  is  typical  of  the 
subspecies. 

Populations  of  reef  fishes  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands  often  are 
distinct  from  elsewhere  in  Oceania.  The  differences  may  be  so 
slight  as  to  not  warrant  nomenclatural  recognition,  or  they  may 
be  of  equal  magnitude  to  those  that  separate  many  sympatric 
marine  species.  In  the  case  of  A.  ventralis , recognition  of  the 
Hawaiian  variant  as  a subspecies  seems  to  be  the  best  treatment. 
A.  v.  hawaiiensis  differs  in  having  slightly  higher  gill-raker 
counts,  fewer  interopercular  serrae,  a deeper  body  on  the  average 
(depth  2.37-2.94  compared  to  2.85-3.13  ford.  v.  ventralis), 
larger  size  (largest  76.9  mm,  compared  to  54.3  mm  for  A.  v. 


ventralis;  since  three  of  the  four  localities  ford.  v.  ventralis  are 
from  higher  latitudes  than  Oahu,  one  cannot  explain  the  larger 
size  as  a cool- water  effect),  and  color.  The  females  in  Hawaii  do 
not  have  such  a sharp  demarcation  of  the  yellow  dorsoposteriorly 
on  the  body  from  lavender  or  magenta  on  the  side,  and  the  males 
in  Hawaii  have  an  orange-red  wash  over  the  middle  and  anterior 
part  of  the  body  (except  ventrally)  plus  more  orange  and  red  in 
the  fins.  It  is  possible,  however,  that  a larger  male  than  any  taken 
thus  far  outside  Hawaii  will  have  more  red  and  orange  color. 

LITERATURE  CITED 

Bleeker,  P.  1873.  Revision  des  especes  indo-archipelagiques  du 
groupe  des  Anthianini.  Ned  Tijdschr.  Dierk.  4:155-169. 

Brock,  Vernon  E.  and  Theodore  C.  Chamberlain.  1968.  A 
geological  and  ecological  reconnaissance  off  western  Oahu, 
Hawaii,  principally  by  means  of  the  research  submarine 
“Asherah.”  Pacific  Sci.  22(3):373-394,  10  figs. 

Clarke,  Thomas  A.  1972.  Collections  and  submarine  observa- 
tions of  deep  benthic  fishes  and  decapod  Crustacea  in 
Hawaii.  Pac.  Sci.  36(3):310— 317. 

Fowler,  Henry  W.  1923.  New  or  little-known  Hawaiian  fishes. 

B.  P.  Bishop  Mus.,  Occ.  Pap.  8(7):375-392. 

Gosline,  William  A.,  and  Vernon  E.  Brock.  1960.  Handbook 
of  Hawaiian  Fishes.  Univ.  Hawaii  Press,  Honolulu,  372 
pp.,  277  figs. 

Herre,  Albert  W.  1927.  A new  genus  and  three  new  species  of 
Philippine  fishes.  Philip.  Jour.  Sci.  32(3):4 1 3—419,  2 pis. 
Jordan,  David  S.  and  Barton  W.  Evermann.  1905.  The 
aquatic  resources  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  Part  I.  The  shore 
fishes.  U.  S.  Bur.  Fisheries,  Bull.  23(l):xxviii  + 574  pp., 
229  figs.,  65  pis.,  73  col.  pis. 

Jordan,  David  S.  and  Robert  E.  Richardson.  1910.  A review 
of  the  Serranidae  or  sea  bass  of  Japan.  U.  S.  Natl.  Mus., 
Proc.  37(17 14):421  — 474,  16  figs. 

Katayama,  Masao.  1975.  Caprodon  unicolor,  a new  anthiine 
fish  from  the  North  Pacific  Ocean.  Japan.  Jour.  Ichth. 
22(1):13-15,  1 fig. 

Randall,  John  E.  In  press.  A preliminary  revision  of  the  fish 
genus  Plectranthias  (Serranidae:  Anthiinae),  with  descrip- 
tions of  12  new  species.  Micronesica,  137  ms  pp.,  26  figs. 

and  Roger  Lubbock.  In  press.  A revision  of  the  ser- 

ranid  fishes  of  the  subgenus  Mirolabrichthys  (Anthiinae:  An- 
thias), with  descriptions  of  six  new  species.  Sci.  Contr.  Nat. 
Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County,  65  ms  pp.,  1 text-fig.,  17 
col.  figs. 

Strasburg,  D.  W.,  E.  C.  Jones  and  R.  T.  B.  Iversen.  1968. 
Use  of  a small  submarine  for  biological  and  oceanographic 
research.  Cons.  Intern.  Explor.  Mer,  Jour.  31(3):410-426, 
7 figs. 

Accepted  for  publication  May  14,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  302:1-13. 


SERIAL  PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE 
NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 

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Number  303 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


THORACICAN  CIRRIPEDIA  OF  THE  LOWER  PLIOCENE  PANCHO  RICO 
FORMATION,  SALINAS  VALLEY,  MONTEREY  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA 


By  Victor  A.  Zullo 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Description  of  Localities  3 


Systematic  Descriptions,  Suborder  BALANOMORPHA 
Pilsbury  1916,  Family  BALANIDAE  Leach  1817, 

Genus  BALANUS  Da  Costa  1778,  Subgenus  BALANUS  Da  Costa  1778 


Balanus  gregarius  (Conrad  1856)  5 

Balanus  proxinubilus  new  species  7 

Balanus  addicotti  new  species  8 

Balanus  crenatus  leipochoma  new  subspecies  10 

Subgenus  SOLIDOBALANUS  Hoek  1913 

Balanus  proinus  Woodring  1950  H 

Acknowledgments  1 1 

Literature  Cited  j j 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial,  retaining  the  name  Contribu- 
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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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23  January  1957  to  16  June  1978)  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial  beginning  with  Number  301. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-  13. 


3 


THORACICAN  CIRRIPEDIA  OF  THE  LOWER  PLIOCENE  PANCHO  RICO 
FORMATION,  SALINAS  VALLEY,  MONTEREY  COUNTY,  CALIFORNIA1 

By  Victor  A.  Zullo2 


ABSTRACT:  Five  thoracican  barnacles,  including  Balanus  gregarius  (Conrad  1856),  B.  proinus  Woodring 
1950,  and  three  new  taxa,  B.  proxinubilus , B.  addicotti,  and  B.  crenatus  leipochoma,  were  found  in  associa- 
tion with  a nearshore  warm  temperate  molluscan  fauna.  Balanus  proxinubilus,  which  also  occurs  in  the  Upper 
Pliocene  San  Diego  Formation,  is  related  to  the  extant  Pacific  Coast  species  B.  nubilus  Darwin  1854.  Balanus 
addicotti  is  allied  to  the  extant  pantropical  species  B.  trigonus  Darwin  1854,  and  B.  crenatus  leipochoma 
differs  but  slightly  from  extant  B.  crenatus  Bruguiere  1789.  The  Pancho  Rico  occurrence  of  B.  proinus  repre- 
sents the  oldest  known  record  of  this  southern  California  Pliocene  species. 


The  Pancho  Rico  Formation  is  of  interest  to  students  of  fossil 
Cirripedia  in  that  it  is  probably  the  type  locality  for  Balanus 
(Balanus)  gregarius  (Conrad  1856).  As  first  described  by  Conrad 
(1856,  1857a),  this  large  and  unusual  barnacle  was  indicated  as 
having  been  collected  in  Monterey  County  by  A.S.  Taylor,  an 
early  resident  of  Monterey.  Except  for  its  presence  in  the  north- 
ernmost outcrops  of  the  Upper  Miocene  Santa  Margarita  Forma- 
tion near  Vineyard  Canyon,  B.  gregarius  is  known  in  Monterey 
County  only  from  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation  (text  figure  1).  Its 
conspicuousness  and  abundance  at  several  easily  accessible 
localities  in  a part  of  the  Salinas  Valley  that  was  populated  during 
Taylor’s  lifetime  strongly  suggest  that  the  original  specimen 
came  from  the  Pancho  Rico,  rather  than  the  more  southerly  and 
limited  exposures  of  the  Santa  Margarita.  The  type  specimen, 
which  presumably  would  have  been  deposited  in  the  Academy  of 
Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  has  not  been  located  and  is 
probably  lost. 

The  Lower  Pliocene  Pancho  Rico  Formation  as  redefined  by 
Durham  and  Addicott  (1964,  1965)  is  characterized  by  fine 
grained  sandstone  and  lesser  amounts  of  conglomerate  and  mud- 
stone overlying  Late  Miocene  or  older  rocks  and  underlying  the 
Pliocene  or  Pleistocene  Paso  Robles  Formation.  According  to 
Addicott  (in  Durham  and  Addicott  1965: A 18)  the  molluscan 
fauna  of  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation  suggests  “that  the  local 
early  Pliocene  marine  climate  was  generally  warmer  than  modem 
climates  at  comparable  latitudes  off  the  central  California  coast” 
and  that  “living  representatives  or  modern  analogs  [of  the 
Pancho  Rico  molluscan  fauna]  are  usually  found  in  shallow  near- 
shore areas  of  the  northeastern  Pacific  Ocean.” 

The  barnacles  available  from  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation  sug- 
gest environmental  conditions  similar  to  those  proposed  for  the 
molluscan  assemblage.  Besides  B.  gregarius,  four  additional  taxa 
were  present  in  collections  examined.  Balanus  proinus  Woodring 
1950  is  an  extinct  species  commonly  encountered  in  younger 
Pliocene  deposits  in  the  San  Joaquin  Valley,  the  Santa  Maria  dis- 
trict, and  in  San  Diego  County.  A new  species  related  to  B. 
trigonus  Darwin  1854  was  found  at  two  localities.  Balanus 


trigonus  is  an  extant  tropical  species  with  Pleistocene  records  in 
the  Caribbean  and  on  the  Pacific  side  of  Mexico,  indicating  its 
presence  in  the  tropical  American  fauna  prior  to  the  late  Miocene 
closure  of  Central  American  and  northern  South  American  sea- 
ways. A second  new  species  is  closely  related  to  the  extant 
northeastern  Pacific  B.  nubilus  Darwin  1854  that  presently  ranges 
from  southeastern  Alaska  to  northern  Baja  California,  and  has  a 
fossil  record  extending  back  to  at  least  the  late  Pliocene  in  north- 
ern California.  The  new  subspecies  is  represented  by  seven 
specimens  attached  to  a fragment  of  the  test  of  a (?)schizasterid 
echinoid,  and  differs  but  slightly  from  extant  B.  crenatus  Bru- 
guiere 1789,  whose  range  on  the  Pacific  Coast  extends  from  the 
Bering  Sea  to  Santa  Barbara,  California. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  LOCALITIES 

Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  In- 
vertebrate Paleontology  Collection  (LACMIP) 

4660.  North  side  of  Wildhorse  Canyon,  NW  1/4  of  SE  1/4  of  Sec.  8, 
T.  20  S.,  R.  9 E.,  San  Lucas  Quadrangle.  Collectors:  J.A. 
Wolfe  and  V.A.  Zullo,  1961  (=  USGS  locality  M1341). 

United  States  Geological  Survey  (USGS) 

M903.  Sandstone  bluff  on  west  side  of  State  Highway  198,  425  feet 
south,  425  feet  west  of  NE  corner  of  Sec.  5,  T.  21  S.,  R.  9 E., 
San  Lucas  quadrangle.  Collectors:  D.L.  Durham,  1959;  W.O. 
Addicott  and  D.L.  Durham,  1964. 

M913.  North  side  of  Wildhorse  Canyon,  2650  feet  north,  1075  feet 
east  of  SW  corner  of  Sec.  8,  T.  20  S.,  R.  9 E.,  San  Lucas 
quadrangle.  Collector:  D.L.  Durham,  1960. 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Warren  O.  Addicott 
Dora  P.  Henry 
Edward  Wilson 

2Research  Associate  in  Invertebrate  Paleontology,  Natural  History  Mu- 
seum of  Los  Angeles  County;  and  Department  of  Earth  Sciences,  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina  at  Wilmington,  Wilmington,  North  Carolina 
28401. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-  13. 


4 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


Text  Figure  1 . Generalized  locality  map  of  barnacle  sites  in  the  Pancho 
Rico  Formation,  Monterey  County,  California  (adapted  from  Durham  and 
Addicott  1965). 


M977.  Base  of  bluff  on  south  side  of  Pancho  Rico  Creek,  1000  feet 
north,  3100  feet  west  of  SE  corner  of  Sec.  11,  T.  22  S.,  R.  10 
E.,  San  Ardo  15  minute  quadrangle.  Collector:  D.L.  Durham, 
1960. 

M982.  Roadcut  on  west  side  of  U.S.  Highway  101,  150  feet  north, 
2525  feet  west  of  SE  corner  of  Sec.  25,  T.  23  S.,  R.  10  E., 
Wunpost  quadrangle.  Collectors:  J.G.  Vedder  and  C.A. 
Repenning,  1960. 

M988.  3150  feet  north,  325  feet  east  of  SE  corner  of  Sec.  28,  T.  19 

S. ,  R.  9 E.,  San  Lucas  quadrangle.  Collector:  D.L.  Durham, 
1958-59. 

M1935.  North  side  of  Walker  Canyon,  900  feet  north,  850  feet  west  of 
SE  corner  of  Sec.  28,  T.  22  S.,  R.  1 1 E.,  Wunpost  quadrangle. 
Collectors:  W.O.  Addicott  and  D.L.  Durham,  1963. 

M1970.  Railroad  cut  at  mouth  of  small  gully,  425  feet  north,  175  feet 
west  of  SE  corner  of  Sec.  25,  T.  23  S.,  R.  10  E.,  Wunpost 
quadrangle.  Collectors:  W.O.  Addicott  and  D.L.  Durham, 
1964. 

M2275.  Cut  on  north  side  of  Bull  Canyon  Road,  100  feet  south,  2400 
feet  east  of  NW  corner  of  Sec.  26,  T.  19  S.,  R.  9 E.,  Hernan- 
dez Valley  quadrangle.  Collector:  W.O.  Addicott,  1964. 

M2279.  Float  collection  near  head  of  small  gully  on  north  side  of  Wild- 
horse  Canyon,  2500  feet  north,  300  feet  west  of  SE  corner  of 
Sec.  8,  T.  20  S.,  R.  9 E.,  King  City  15  minute  quadrangle. 
Collector:  W.O.  Addicott,  1964. 

University  of  California  Museum  of  Paleontology 
(UCMP) 

A-3425.  On  ridge  at  head  of  Sargent  Canyon,  NW  1/4  corner  of  Sec.  9, 

T.  22  S.,  R.  12  E.,  Priest  Valley  30  minute  quadrangle. 

A- 4945.  Same  as  USGS  locality  1341,  LACMIP  locality  4660. 

A-4947.  Highest  sandstone  bed  exposed  on  hill  about  250  yards  south- 
east of  the  center  of  the  east  half  of  Sec.  33,  T.  20  S.,  R.  9 E., 
Priest  Valley  quadrangle  (1915  edition). 

A-7570.  East  branch  of  prominent  south  draining  gully;  from  diatomite 
just  below  contact  with  sandy  barnacle  zone,  about  15  feet 
above  lowest  outcrop  in  cliff.  NE  1/4  Sec.  32,  T.  19  S.,  R.  9 
E.,  King  City  quadrangle  (1941  edition).  Collected  September, 
1951. 

A— 7571.  Locality  same  as  A-7570,  but  from  higher  bed  in  west  branch 
of  gully  just  below  top  of  cliff. 

A-8477.  Eight-tenths  of  a mile  east  of  the  junction  of  U.S.  Highway  101 


and  State  Highway  198.  First  outcrop  on  north  side  of  Highway 
198  towards  Priest  Valley. 


SYSTEMATIC  DESCRIPTIONS 

Suborder  BALANOMORPHA  Pilsbry  1916 
Family  BALANIDAE  Leach  1817 
Genus  BALANUS  Da  Costa  1778 
Subgenus  BALANUS  Da  Costa  1778 

Balanus  gregarius  (Conrad  1856) 

Figures  1-9 

Tamiosoma  gregaria  Conrad  1856:315;  1857a:72,  pi.  4,  fig.  18  [Mon- 
terey County,  California];  Gabb  1869:61,  pi.  18,  figs.  22a-d;  Dali 
1902:5. 

Balanus  estrellanus  Conrad  1 857b:  1 95,  pi.  8,  fig.  1 [Estrella,  California]; 
1877:156. 

Radiolites  gregaria  Conrad  1864:214. 

Balanus  H estrellanus  Conrad  1876:273. 

? Balanus  aquila  Pilsbry  1907:199,  pi.  8,  figs.  5-8;  1916:127,  pi.  31, 
figs.  1-2,  4a,  pi.  32,  figs.  2- 2c,  text  figs.  34a-b,  35a-c  [Mon- 
terey Bay,  California], 

Balanus  gregarius  (Conrad).  Pilsbry  1916:126,  pi.  28,  figs.  1-3,  pi.  29; 
Zullo  1964:360;  Durham  and  Addicott  1965:  All,  A14,  pi.  1,  figs. 
2,  3,  6,  8 [probably  not  pi.  2,  figs.  4,  9,  referred  to  Balanus  sp.  on 
legend,  pi.  2];  Zullo  1969:6,  figs.  3-7,  45. 

Balanus  (Tamiosoma)  cf.  B.  (T.)  gregarius  (Conrad).  Woodring,  in 
Woodring,  Stewart  and  Richards  1940:96,  pi.  36,  figs.  2-5,  8-9. 
Balanus  concavus  concavus  Bronn.  Ross  1962:14,  figs.  6-7. 

OCCURRENCE:  USGS  Iocs.  M903,  M913,  M977,  M982, 
M 1 935,  M 1 970;  UCMP  Iocs.  A-3425,  A-4945,  A-7570, 
A-7571,  A-8477;  LACMIP  loc.  4660. 

Distribution:  Early  Miocene  — Late  Pliocene,  central  and 
southern  California,  Baja  California.  (?)Pleistocene — Recent, 
central  California  to  northern  Baja  California  (as  B.  aquila  Pils- 
bry 1907;  see  Zullo  1964). 

REMARKS:  Balanus  gregarius  is  the  most  commonly  encoun- 
tered barnacle  in  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation,  and  locally  forms 
‘reefs’  similar  to  those  described  by  Woodring  (in  Woodring, 
Stewart  and  Richards  1940)  in  the  Etchegoin  Formation  of  the 
Kettleman  Hills,  Kings  County,  California.  Preservation  is  ex- 
cellent, and  opercular  valves  retaining  purple  coloration  on  the 
beaks  and  in  the  medial  part  of  the  interior  of  the  valve  are  often 
found  either  in  life  position  or  at  the  bottom  of  the  sediment  filled 
shell.  About  half  of  the  Pancho  Rico  specimens  collected  lack  an 
elongate,  cellular  basis.  In  those  possessing  such  a basis,  length 
(with  respect  to  total  height  of  shell)  and  density  of  cellular  fill- 
ing varied  greatly.  A few  bases  up  to  35  cm  in  length  were 
found,  but  most  were  in  the  range  of  from  8 to  15  cm. 

Opercular  valves  obtained  from  shells  with  flat  bases  were  not 
observed  to  differ  from  those  found  in  shells  with  elongate  bases. 
Similarly,  Pancho  Rico  valves  could  not  be  differentiated  from 
those  previously  illustrated  from  the  Upper  Pliocene  San  Diego 
Formation  (Zullo  1969),  or  from  those  of  Pleistocene  or  extant 
specimens  of  B.  aquila.  As  suggested  earlier  (Zullo  1964),  it  is 
probable  that  B.  aquila  is  a junior  synonym  of  B.  gregarius.  The 
opercular  valves  of  B.  gregarius  described  and  illustrated  from 
the  Kettleman  Hills  by  Woodring  (in  Woodring,  Stewart  and 
Richards  1940)  are  also  similar  in  form,  but  are  not  representa- 
tive of  the  Etchegoin  population.  Bulk  collections  (which  in- 
cluded over  200  opercular  valves)  made  by  the  author  from 


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Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


5 


Figures  1-9.  Opercular  valves  of  Balanus  ( Balanus ) gregarius  (Conrad).  (1)  exterior  of  scutum,  hypotype  LACM1P 
4926;  (2)  exterior  of  tergum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4927;  (3)  exterior  of  scutum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4928;  (4)  interior  of 
scutum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4929;  (5)  exterior  of  tergum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4930;  (6)  interior  of  scutum,  hypotype 
LACMIP  4931;  (7)  interior  of  tergum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4932;  (8)  interior  of  tergum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4933;  (9) 
exterior  of  tergum,  hypotype  LACMIP  4932  [Height  of  tergum,  fig.  2,  21  mm;  all  valves  to  same  scale.] 


Contrib.  Sci.  Naiur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


6 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


Figures  10-17.  Balanus  (Balanus)  proxinubilus,  new  species.  (10)  exterior  of  tergum,  holotype  LACMIP  4934,  height,  18 
mm;  (11)  interior  of  same;  (12)  three  shells  of  ribbed  form,  paratypes  LACMIP  4937,  4938,  4940,  carinorostral  diameter  of 
orifice,  paratype  LACMIP  4938  (center  of  photograph),  29  mm;  (13)  interior  of  scutum,  holotype  LACMIP  4934,  height,  20 
mm;  (14)  interior  of  scutum,  holotype  LACMIP  4934,  height,  19  mm;  (15)  interior  of  tergum,  holotype  LACMIP  4934, 
height,  19  mm;  (16)  exterior  of  scutum  shown  in  fig.  13;  (17)  shells  of  smooth  form,  including  holotype  LACMIP  4934 
(second  from  right)  and  paratypes  4935,  4936,  4941,  4942,  carinorostral  diameter  of  orifice  of  paratype  LACMIP  4935 
(second  from  left),  27  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


7 


Woodring’s  localities  indicate  that  the  Etchegoin  population  dif- 
fers in  two  respects:  1)  the  tergal  spur  usually  is  flush  with  the 
basal  margin,  rather  than  being  elevated  above  the  basal  margin 
by  the  closure  of  the  spur  furrow;  and  2)  the  articular  ridge  of  the 
scutum  usually  is  joined  to  the  adductor  ridge,  rather  than  being 
clearly  separated.  These  differences  are  not  constant,  even  in 
specimens  from  the  same  lot,  but  they  suggest  the  possibility  of 
the  presence  of  a distinct  race  of  B.  gregarius  in  the  San  Joaquin 
embayment  during  Pliocene  time. 

The  tergum  figured  by  Durham  and  Addicott  (1965,  pi.  2, 
figs.  4,  9)  from  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation  was  referred  to  B. 
gregarius  in  the  text  and  to  Balanus  sp.  in  the  plate  legend.  The 
.specimen  does  not  appear  to  represent  a tergum  of  B.  gregarius. 
The  characteristic  apical  beak  is  missing,  and  the  apex  is  neither 
broken  nor  significantly  worn.  There  is  no  pit  entering  the  apex 
on  the  carinal  side  of  the  articular  ridge,  the  exterior  surface  of 
the  valve  lacks  radial  striae  (especially  prominent  on  the  scutal 
side  in  B.  gregarius ),  and  the  tergal  spur  is  shorter  and  broader. 
In  general  form  this  tergum  resembles  those  of  either  the  B.  paci- 
ficus  Pilsbry  1916 — B.  concavus  Bronn  1831  group,  or  of  the 
subgenus  Megabalanus  Hoek  1913.  An  undescribed  species, 
related  to  B.  pacificus  and  with  a similar  tergum,  occurs  in  asso- 
ciation with  B.  gregarius  in  the  Upper  Miocene  Santa  Margarita 
Formation  in  San  Luis  Obispo  County,  California  (UCMP  collec- 
tion). The  megabalanid  B.  wilsoni  Zullo  1969  and  some  ques- 


tionable specimens  of  B.  pacificus  are  found  with  B.  gregarius  in 
the  Upper  Pliocene  San  Diego  Formation. 

Balanus  proxinubilus  new  species 

Figures  10-20 

Balanus  n.  sp.?  Addicott,  in  Durham  and  Addicott  1965:14. 

Balanus  nubilus  Darwin.  Zullo  1969:8,  figs.  8-  10. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Large,  high  conic  Balanus  with  open  parietal 
tubes;  scutum  as  in  B.  nubilus  Darwin,  but  with  smaller,  circular 
adductor  muscle  pit  placed  higher  on  valve,  and  broader,  lower 
adductor  ridge;  tergum  as  in  B.  nubilus,  but  with  shorter,  broader 
tergal  spur  placed  farther  from  the  basiscutal  angle,  and  resulting 
marked  prolongation  of  the  scutal  half  of  the  basal  margin,  whose 
juncture  with  the  spur  is  angular. 

DESCRIPTION:  Shell  large,  high  conic;  orifice  toothed,  sub- 
triangular;  exterior  of  parietes  nearly  smooth  to  rugose;  radii 
moderately  wide  with  oblique  summits;  sutural  edges  of  radii 
with  complex  pattern  of  primary  and  secondary  denticulae;  alae 
broad,  projecting  slightly  above  radii;  basis  thick,  porous,  cling- 
ing firmly  to  compartmental  plates;  interior  of  parietes  ribbed 
from  sheath  to  basis;  sheath  one-half  to  two-thirds  length  of  com- 
partmental plates,  with  deep  cavity  under  lower  edge;  parietal 
tubes  large,  numerous,  open  throughout  length. 


Figures  18-20.  Balanus  (Balanus)  proxinubilus , new  species.  (18-19)  exterior  of  terga,  paratype 
LACMIP  4935,  height,  20  mm;  (20)  basal  view  of  paries,  paratype  LACMIP  4939,  length  (from 
left  to  right),  20  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


8 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


Figures  21-22.  Exterior  of  terga  of  Balanus  (Balanus) 
nubilus  Darwin,  illustrating  lack  of  scutad  prolongation 
of  valve  (after  Pilsbry  1916,  pi.  31,  figs.  3,4). 


Scutum  sculptured  externally  by  prominent,  widely  spaced 
growth  lines;  tergal  margin  not  reflected;  basitergal  angle  nearly 
90  degrees;  articular  ridge  moderately  developed,  reflected, 
slightly  over  half  length  of  tergal  margin;  articular  furrow  broad, 
shallow;  adductor  ridge  indistinct,  low,  merging  with  articular 
ridge  above  to  form  low  swelling  between  articular  ridge  and 
adductor  muscle  pit;  adductor  muscle  pit  small,  well  defined,  cir- 
cular, placed  high  on  valve;  depressor  muscle  pit  large,  triangu- 
lar, with  distinct  longitudinal  ridge  bisecting  pit;  occludent  mar- 
gin bearing  prominent  teeth  formed  by  alternate  growth  incre- 
ments; tergal  margin  one-third  again  as  long  as  basal  margin; 
scutum  slightly  concave  between  basal  margin  and  apex. 

Tergum  broad,  triangular;  articular  ridge  blunt,  not  reflexed, 
long;  articular  furrow  broad,  shallow;  scutal  margin  prominently 
reflexed;  crests  for  lateral  depressor  muscles  well  developed, 
thin,  long,  about  six  in  number;  length  of  basal  margin  equal  to 
height  of  tergum  excluding  spur;  width  of  tergal  spur  equals 
three-eights  length  of  basal  margin;  spur  V-shaped,  forming 
angle  slightly  greater  than  90  degrees  with  basal  margin  on  scutal 
side,  less  angulate  on  carinal  side;  spur  placed  centrally  on  basal 
margin  (about  its  own  width  from  basiscutal  angle),  giving  an 
elongate  appearance  to  scutal  half  of  tergum;  spur  fasciole  delim- 


ited  by  grooves  on  either  side. 

DIMENSIONS: 

Height 

Carinorostral  diameter 
of  orifice 

Holotype  LACMIP  4934: 

37  mm 

22  mm 

Paratype  LACMIP  4935: 

50  mm 

27  mm 

Paratype  LACMIP  4938: 

54  mm 

29  mm 

DISPOSITION  OF  TYPES:  Holotype  and  paratypes  are  depos- 
ited in  the  Invertebrate  Paleontology  collection.  Natural  History 
Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County. 


OCCURRENCE:  Lower  Pliocene,  Pancho  Rico  Formation, 
LACMIP  locality  4660  (type  locality,  = UCMP  loc.  A-4945, 
USGS  loc.  M1341),  and  USGS  loc.  M913;  Upper  Pliocene,  San 
Diego  Formation,  LACMIP  loc.  305. 

ETYMOLOGY:  A compound  word  from  the  Latin,  meaning 
nearest  nubilus. 

REMARKS:  Balanus  proxinubilus  is  quite  similar  in  appear- 
ance to  the  extant  Pacific  Coast  species  B.  nubilus.  The  shells  of 
the  two  species  are  virtually  identical  in  form.  The  scuta  of  B. 
proxinubilus  differ  somewhat  in  having  a lower,  broader  adductor 
ridge  and  a smaller  adductor  muscle  pit.  The  tergum  of  B.  proxi- 
nubilus, however,  can  be  distinguished  readily  from  that  of  B. 
nubilus.  The  marked  prolongation  of  the  basiscutal  part  of  the 
tergum,  the  short,  broad  tergal  spur,  and  the  angularity  of  the 
juncture  between  the  spur  and  the  basal  margin  on  the  scutal  side 
give  to  the  tergum  a distinctive  appearance  that  is  not  found  in 
extant  and  fossil  examples  of  B.  nubilus. 

The  fragmentary  terga  from  the  Upper  Pliocene  San  Diego 
Lormation  referred  to  B.  nubilus  in  an  earlier  paper  (Zullo  1969) 
are  similar  in  form  to  the  Pancho  Rico  terga,  and  also  appear  to 
represent  B.  proxinubilus . Balanus  nubilus  is  known  from  depos- 
its of  Late  Pliocene  age  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  but  unlike  B.  proxi- 
nubilus, the  species  is  associated  with  a cool  water  fauna  in 
northern  California.  By  Pleistocene  time,  B.  nubilus  was  widely 
distributed,  as  evidenced  by  the  numerous  examples  available 
from  rocks  of  this  age  from  Oregon  south  to  Baja  California. 
Balanus  proxinubilus  thus  appears  to  have  been  a southern,  warm 
water  Pliocene  species  that  may  well  have  succumbed  to  the 
southern  advance  of  B.  nubilus  during  the  Pleistocene. 


Balanus  addicotti  new  species 

Figures  23-32 

DIAGNOSIS:  Small,  high  conic,  ribbed  Balanus  with  broad 
radii;  external  growth  ridges  of  scutum  cut  by  deep  radial  striae, 
giving  marked  cancellate  appearance  to  exterior  of  valve;  scutal 
adductor  ridge  short,  stout  and  high;  tergum  with  short,  broad, 
basally  truncate  spur  and  open  spur  furrow. 

DESCRIPTION:  Shell  small,  high  conic;  orifice  untoothed, 
subtrigonal  to  diamond  shaped;  parietes  regularly  ribbed;  parietal 
tubes  small,  rounded,  numerous,  without  transverse  septa,  but 
filled  in  upper  half;  radii  broad,  solid,  thick,  with  horizontal 
summits;  sutural  edges  of  radii  coarsely  denticulate;  alae  thinner, 
with  oblique  summits;  sheath  about  one-half  height  of  shell, 
lower  edge  dependent;  interior  of  parietes  sharply  ribbed  from 
basis  to  lower  edge  of  sheath;  basis  moderately  thick,  with  small, 
radiating  non-septate  tubes. 

Scutum  thick,  narrow;  exterior  ornamented  by  closely  spaced 
growth  ridges  crossed  by  deeply  incised  radial  striae  that  cut 
growth  ridges  into  a series  of  high  nodes;  tergal  border  reflexed 
90  degrees;  adductor  ridge  high,  short  and  stout,  situated  in  cen- 
ter of  valve,  and  with  a small  pit  between  it  and  the  tergal  mar- 
gin; adductor  muscle  pit  oval,  shallow,  situated  close  to  occlud- 
ent margin;  depressor  muscle  pit  large,  deep;  articular  ridge  two- 
thirds  to  three-fourths  length  of  tergal  margin,  broadly  arched, 
and  reflexed  over  deep,  narrow,  articular  furrow. 

Tergum  thin,  broad;  tergal  spur  short,  broad,  situated  close  to 
basiscutal  angle,  and  truncate  basally;  spur  width  from  one-half 
to  two-thirds  width  of  basal  margin;  juncture  of  spur  with  basal 
margin  angular  on  both  sides;  spur  furrow  broad,  open;  articular 


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Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


9 


Figures  23-26.  Balanus  (Balanus)  addicotti,  new  species,  USGS  loc.  M1935.  (23)  Holotype  USNM  248194  (center, 
bottom)  and  paratypes  USNM  248194/a-d,  carinorostral  diameter  of  orifice  of  holotype,  4.5  mm;  (24)  group  of  shells, 
paratype  lot  USNM  248195,  length  of  cluster,  21  mm;  (25)  group  of  shells,  USNM  248196,  maximum  height  of 
photographed  portion  of  cluster,  35  mm;  (26)  interior  of  shell  from  paratype  lot  USNM  248195  (fig.  24)  showing  basal  tubes, 
parietal  ribbing,  and  sheath. 


ridge  low,  short;  articular  furrow  broad,  shallow;  depressor  mus- 
cle crests  numerous,  short,  dependent  below  basal  margin. 

DIMENSIONS:  Height  Greatest  Diameter 

Holotype  USNM  1 1 mm  9 mm 

Paratype  USNM  1 8 mm  12  mm 

Paratype  USNM  2 6.5  mm  10  mm 

DISPOSITION  OF  TYPES:  Holotype  and  described  paratypes 
deposited  in  the  United  States  National  Museum;  other  paratypes 
deposited  in  the  University  of  California  Museum  of  Paleontol- 
ogy- 

OCCURRENCE:  Lower  Pliocene,  Pancho  Rico  Formation, 
USGS  Iocs.  M1935  (type  locality)  and  M2275;  UCMP  loc. 
A-7570. 

ETYMOLOGY:  This  species  is  named  for  Warren  O.  Addi- 
cott. 


REMARKS:  Balanus  addicotti  bears  marked  resemblance  to 
the  extant  tropicopolitan  species  B.  trigonus  Darwin.  It  differs 
from  this  species  in  the  less  distinctly  trigonal  shell  orifice,  in  the 
cancellate  rather  than  pitted  sculpture  of  the  scutum,  and  in  the 
stouter  and  more  pronounced  scutal  adductor  ridge.  The  cancel- 
late  ornamentation  of  the  scutum  is  like  that  of  8.  spongicola 
Brown  1827,  but  this  species  differs  in  lacking  a distinct  scutal 
adductor  ridge,  and  in  having  a much  narrower  tergal  spur  and  a 
smooth  shell  wall.  The  opercular  valves  of  the  tropical  American 
species  B.  calidus  Pilsbry,  1916  are  similar  to  those  of  B.  addi- 
cotti, but  the  radial  striae  of  the  scutum  of  B.  calidus  are  not 
deeply  incised  and  thus  do  not  impart  a cancellate  appearance  to 
the  surface  of  the  valve.  Also,  the  radii  of  B.  calidus  are  much 
narrower,  and  the  shell  wall  is  plicate  rather  than  regularly 
ribbed.  Balanus  addicotti  is  also  similar  to  B.  kanakoffi  Zullo 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


10 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


Figures  27-32.  Opercular  valves  of  Balanus  ( Balanus ) addicotti,  new  species,  holotype  USNM  248194, 
USGS  loc.  M1935.  (27)  exterior  of  scutum,  height,  3.8  mm;  (28)  exterior  of  tergum,  height,  3.5  mm;  (29) 
exterior  of  scutum,  height,  3.8  mm;  (30)  interior  of  scutum  of  fig.  29;  (31)  interior  of  tergum  of  fig.  28; 
(32)  interior  of  scutum  of  fig.  27. 


1969,  which  is*known  only  from  the  Upper  Pliocene  San  Diego 
Formation  of  southern  California.  However,  B.  kanakoffi  has  a 
plicate  shell  with  narrow  radii  (the  suture  between  the  carina  and 
carinolaterals  being  linear  or  obscured),  and  a beaked,  narrow 
tergum.  In  addition  the  scutum  of  B.  kanakoffi  lacks  a distinct 
adductor  ridge. 

The  extant  and  fossil  distribution  of  B.  trigonus  in  tropical 
American  waters  indicates  that  this  species  ranged  at  least  as  far 
back  as  the  Late  Miocene  in  the  eastern  Pacific,  and  was  thus 
probably  present  along  the  southern  and  central  California  coast 
during  the  time  of  deposition  of  the  Pancho  Rico  Formation.  Bal- 
anus addicotti  may  have  been  a geographically  and  temporally 
localized  derivative  of  B.  trigonus  that  became  extinct  upon 
withdrawal  of  the  sea  from  the  Pliocene  Salinas  Valley  embay- 
ment.  Balanus  addicotti  may  yet  be  discovered  in  rocks  of  Jaca- 
litos  age  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  San  Andreas  fault,  but  it  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  present  in  younger  Pliocene  warm  water 
faunas  of  the  San  Diego  Formation  (Zullo  1969)  and  of  the 
Etchegoin  and  San  Joaquin  Formation  of  the  Kettleman  Hills 
(unpublished  data). 

Balanus  crenatus  leipochoma 

NEW  SUBSPECIES 
Figures  33-37 

DIAGNOSIS;  Small,  low  conic  shell  with  non-septate  parietal 


tubes  and  narrow,  oblique  radii;  interior  of  parietes  ribbed;  basis 
thin,  nonporous;  space  behind  dependent  basal  margin  of  sheath 
bearing  cellular  secondary  deposits;  scutum  broader  than  tall,  ex- 
ternally concave,  with  prominent  articular  ridge  and  indistinct 
adductor  ridge;  tergum  broad,  with  broad,  short,  subtruncate 
spur. 

DESCRIPTION:  Shell  small,  low  conic;  orifice  of  moderate  to 
large  size,  diamond  shaped;  parietes  thin,  smooth,  or  plicate  in 
basal  third;  parietal  tubes  square,  without  transverse  septa;  radii 
narrow,  oblique;  alae  wider  than  radii  and  projecting  above 
summits  of  radii;  sheath  one-half  to  two-thirds  length  of  com- 
partment; space  under  lower  edge  of  sheath  crudely  septate  or 
secondarily  filled;  interior  of  parietes  ribbed;  basis  thin,  solid. 

External  surface  of  scutum  concave,  ornamented  solely  by 
growth  increments;  basal  margin  slightly  longer  than  tergal  mar- 
gin; articular  ridge  prominent,  nearly  erect,  occupying  slightly 
more  than  half  of  the  tergal  margin,  articular  furrow  deep,  broad; 
adductor  ridge  indistinct,  basically  a calloused  region  between 
adductor  muscle  pit  and  articular  ridge;  adductor  muscle  pit 
prominent,  deep,  lenticular  in  shape;  depressor  muscle  pit  shal- 
low, triangular. 

Tergum  broad,  thin;  tergal  spur  broad,  short,  near  basiscutal 
angle,  and  rounded  basally;  spur  width  about  one-half  that  of 
width  of  basal  margin;  juncture  of  spur  with  basal  margin  gently 
curved  on  both  sides;  spur  furrow  broad,  open;  articular  ridge 
prominent,  not  reflexed,  restricted  to  upper  half  of  valve,  artic- 
ular furrow  broad,  deep;  five  short,  well  developed  depressor 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


11 


muscle  crests  depend  slightly  below  basal  margin. 

DIMENSIONS:  Height  Greatest  Diameter 

Holotype  UCMP  10929  4 mm  8.5  mm 

DISPOSITION  OF  TYPES:  Holotype  and  six  paratypes  depos- 
ited in  the  University  of  California  Museum  of  Paleontology  col- 
lection. 

OCCURRENCE:  Lower  Pliocene,  Pancho  Rico  Formation, 
UCMP  loc.  A- 4946,  on  fragment  of  (?)schizasteroid  echinoid 
test. 

ETYMOLOGY:  Subspecific  epithet  a compound  word  from 
the  Greek  leipo,  ‘without’  and  choma,  ‘bulwark’. 

REMARKS:  It  is  perhaps  inappropriate  to  characterize  these 
fossil  specimens  as  distinct  from  typical  B.  crenatus.  The  oper- 
cular valves  are  unremarkable  and  the  shell,  in  all  features  but 
one,  is  that  of  B.  crenatus.  However,  examination  of  the  parietal 
tubes  of  several  fragmental  shells  associated  with  the  type  lot, 
and  of  the  holotype  itself  revealed  no  trace  of  transverse  septa;  a 
feature  characteristic  of  typical  B.  crenatus  and  its  known  sub- 
species. 

The  opercular  valves  and  external  shell  form  are  easily  con- 
fused with  those  of  B.  proinus.  However,  none  of  the  over  two 
hundred  shells  of  B.  proinus  examined  exhibited  any  trace  of 
parietal  tubes  or  of  secondary  cellular  deposits  below  the  depen- 
dent margin  of  the  sheath. 

Subgenus  SOL1DOBALANUS  Hoek  1913 
Balanus  proinus  Woodring  1950 

Figures  38-41 

Balanus  hesperius  Pilsbry,  var  Woodring,  in  Woodring,  Stewart  and 
Richards  1940:30,  97. 

Balanus  hesperius  proinus  Woodring,  in  Woodring  and  Bramlette  1950: 
92,  pi.  14,  figs.  11,  15,  pi.  16,  figs.  1-3,  8-  12. 

Balanus  proinus  Woodring.  Zullo  1969:16,  figs.  26-32. 

OCCURRENCE:  UCMP  Iocs.  A-4947,  A-7570. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Pliocene,  southern  California:  Lower  Plio- 
cene, Pancho  Rico  Formation,  Salinas  Valley;  ‘Middle’  Pliocene, 
Foxen  Mudstone,  Santa  Maria  district;  Upper  Pliocene,  San  Joa- 
quin Formation,  Kettleman  Hills,  Careaga  Sandstone,  Santa 
Maria  district  (type  locality),  San  Diego  Formation,  San  Diego 
County. 

REMARKS:  The  specimens  of  B.  proinus  from  the  Pancho 
Rico  Formation  represents  the  oldest  recognized  occurrence  of 
the  species.  It  is  apparently  as  common  in  Pliocene  deposits  of 
southern  California  as  is  B.  gregarius  but,  because  of  its  diminu- 
tive size,  is  not  as  well  known.  Shells  are  often  found  attached  to 
pectens  and  occasionally  to  clypeasteroid  echinoids  and  gastro- 
pods, but  they  have  not  been  observed  in  association  with  other 
barnacles. 

Balanus  proinus  is  the  youngest  known  member  of  a Tertiary 
tropical  to  warm  temperate  eastern  Pacific  group  that  goes  back 
to  the  Late  Eocene  (Zullo  1966).  There  are  no  known  warm 
water  survivors,  but  the  extant  boreal  Pacific  species  B.  hesperius 
Pilsbry  1916  appears  to  be  a derivative  of  this  lineage. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I wish  to  thank  Warren  O.  Addicott  and  Jack  A.  Wolfe  of  the 
U.S.  Geological  Survey,  Menlo  Park,  California  for  their  help  in 
obtaining  the  specimens  used  in  this  study. 

Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


LITERATURE  CITED 

Bronn,  H.G.  1831.  Italiens  Tertiar-Gebilde  und  deren  orga- 
nische  Einschliisse.  K.  Groos,  Heidelburg,  xii  + 176  pp.,  4 
text  figs. 

BROWN,  T.  1827.  Illustrations  of  the  recent  conchology  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  with  the  description  and  localities  of  all 
the  species,  marine,  land  and  fresh-water.  London,  6 pp., 
53  pis. 

Bruguiere,  J.G.  1789.  Histoire  naturelle  des  Vers.  Encyclopedie 
Methodique  1(1):  1-134. 

Conrad,  T.A.  1856.  Descriptions  of  three  new  genera;  twenty- 
three  new  species  Middle  Tertiary  fossils  from  California, 
and  one  from  Texas.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  Proc. 
8:312-316. 

. 1857a.  Description  of  the  Tertiary  fossils  collected  on 

the  Survey.  Pacific  Railroad  Reports  6 (Geol.  Rpt. 
2):69—  73,  pis.  2-5. 

. 1857b.  Report  on  the  paleontology  of  the  Survey.  Ibid. 

7:189-196,  pis.  1-10. 

.1864.  Notes  on  shells,  with  descriptions  of  new  fossil 

genera  and  species.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia,  Proc. 
16:211-214. 

. 1876.  Note  on  a cirripede  of  the  California  Miocene, 

with  remarks  on  fossil  shells.  Ibid.  28:273-275. 

. 1877.  Note  on  the  relations  of  Balanus  estrellanus  of  the 

California  Miocene.  Amer.  Jour.  Sci.  (3)13:156-  157. 

Da  Costa,  E.  1778.  Historia  Naturalis  Testaceorum  Britanniae, 
vol.  1.  London,  254  pp.,  200  text  figs.,  17  pis. 

Dall,  W.H.  1902.  On  the  true  nature  of  Tamiosoma.  Science 
(n.s.)15:5-7. 

Darwin,  C.  1854.  A monograph  on  the  sub-class  Cirripedia,  2. 
Balanidae,  Verrucidae.  Ray  Soc.,  London,  viii  + 684  pp., 
1 1 text  figs.,  30  pis. 

Durham,  D.L.  and  W.O.  Addicott.  1964.  Upper  Miocene  and 
Pliocene  marine  stratigraphy  in  southern  Salinas  Valley, 
California.  U.S.  Geol.  Surv.  Bull.  1194E:  E1-E7. 

. 1965.  Pancho  Rico  Formation  Salinas  Valley,  Califor- 
nia.U.S.  Geol.  Surv.  Prof.  Paper  524A:i—  iii , A1-A22  text, 
figs.  1-7,  pis.  1-5. 

Gabb,  W.M.  1869.  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  fossils.  California 
Geol.  Surv.,  Paleontology  2:i-xiv,  1-299,  pis.  1-36. 

Hoek,  P.P.C.  1913.  Cirripedia  of  the  Siboga  Expedition,  B.  Cir- 
ripedia Sessilia.  Siboga-Expeditie  31b:  129—  275,  pis.  11-27. 

Leach,  W.E.  1817.  Distribution  systematique  de  la  classe  des 
Cirripedes.  Jour.  Phys.  Chim.  His.  Nat.  85:67-69. 

Pilsbry,  H.A.  1907.  Cirripedia  from  the  Pacific  coast  of  North 
America.  Bull.  Bur.  Fisheries  26(617):  193—  204,  figs.  1-4, 
6-11. 

. 1916.  The  sessile  barnacles  (Cirripedia)  contained  in  the 

collections  of  the  U.S.  National  Museum,  including  a 
monograph  of  the  American  species.  U.S.  Natl.  Mus.,  Bull. 
93:i-xi,  1-366,  text  figs.  1-99,  pis.  1-76. 

Ross,  A.  1962.  Results  of  the  Puritan-American  Museum  of 
Natural  History  Expedition  to  Western  Mexico,  15.  The  lit- 
toral balanomorph  Cirripedia.  Amer.  Mus.  Novitates 
2084:1-44,  figs.  1-24. 


12 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


Figures  33-37.  Balanus  (Balanus)  crenatus  leipochoma,  new  subspecies,  UCMP  loc.  A-4946.  (33)  Shells  of  type  lot 
(holotype  UCMP  10929  and  paratypes  UCMP  10930a-f),  lateral  paries  of  holotype  ground  to  show  non-septate  tubes; 
(34-35)  tergum  of  holotype  UCMP  10929,  height,  2.1  mm;  (36-37)  scutum  of  holotype  UCMP  10929,  height,  2.2  mm. 
Figures  38-41.  Balamis  ( Solidobalanus ) proimts  Woodring,  UCMP  loc.  A-4947.  (38)  exterior  of  tergum,  hypotype  UCMP 
10931,  height,  2.5  mm;  (39)  interior  of  scutum,  hypotype  UCMP  10931,  height,  1.6  mm;  (40)  interior  of  tergum  of  fig.  38; 
(41)  group  of  shells  on  Lyropecten  estreUanus  (Conrad),  hypotype  lot  UCMP  10932,  height,  51  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


Zullo:  Pliocene  Cirripedia 


13 


Woodring,  W.P,  and  M.N.  Bramlette.  1950.  Geology  and 
paleontology  of  the  Santa  Maria  District,  California.  U.S. 
Geol.  Surv.  Prof.  Paper  222:i-iv,  1-185,  text  figs.  1-9, 
pis.  1-23. 

. R.  Steward  and  R.W.  Richards,  1940.  Geology  of 

the  Kettleman  Hills  oil  field,  California.  U.S.  Geol.  Surv. 
Prof.  Paper  195:1-170,  text  figs.  1-15,  pis.  1-57. 

Zullo,  V.A.  1964.  Re-evaluation  of  the  late  Cenozoic  cirriped 
“Tamiosoma”  Conrad.  Biol.  Bull.  127(2):360  (abstr . ) . 


. 1966.  A new  species  of  Balanus  (Cirripedia,  Thoracica) 

from  the  Late  Eocene  Cowlitz  Formation  of  southern  Wash- 
ington, U.S. A.  Crustaceana  11:198-204,  text  figs.  1-2. 

. 1969.  Thoracic  Cirripedia  of  the  San  Diego  Formation, 

San  Diego  County,  California.  Los  Angeles  Co.  Mus.,  Con- 
trib.  Sci.  159:1-25,  figs.  1-77. 

Accepted  for  publication  June  16,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  303:1-13. 


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ONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 

» . I.,  .ii vr,vw  - i mi  i 


A HOLLOW  SPINED  ANAPACHYDISCUS  PEN1NSULARIS 
WITH  POSSIBLE  MOSASAUR  BITE  IMPRESSIONS 


Bv  LouElla  R.  Saul 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


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3 


A HOLLOW  SPINED  ANAPACHYDISCUS  PENINSULARIS 
WITH  POSSIBLE  MOSASAUR  BITE  IMPRESSIONS1 

By  LouElla  R.  Saul2 


ABSTRACT:  A specimen  of  Early  Maestrichtian  age  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  (Anderson  and  Hanna)  from 
Arroyo  Santa  Catarina,  Baja  California,  Mexico,  has  nearly  round  holes  punched  in  the  shell  so  arranged  that 
they  suggest  mosasaur  bite  marks.  The  early  whorls  are  ornamented  with  hollow  lateral  spines  which  could 
have  served  as  vertical  stabilizers. 


A concretion  of  roughly  20  cm  diameter  protruding  from  the 
near  vertical  side  of  a gully  cut  into  Rosario  Formation  siltstone 
was  overlooked  by  local  entrepreneurs  who,  in  1968,  collected 
for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  lamp  bases,  etc.,  all  exposed  or 
near  surface  ammonites  from  the  well-known  locality  in  Arroyo 
Santa  Catarina,  Baja  California,  Mexico.  A blow  or  two  with 
sledge  and  chisel  split  the  concretion  and  freed  from  the  rock  a 
well-preserved  ammonite,  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  (Ander- 
son and  Hanna).  Matrix  plugs  remained  in  the  umbilicus,  and  a 
lump  of  siltstone  adhered  to  and  filled  what  remained  of  the 
broken  body  chamber.  Four  curiously  round  holes,  two  on  each 
side  marred  the  specimen.  Their  shape,  spacing  and  alignment 
are  reminiscent  of  those  in  the  mosasaur-bitten  ammonite 
described  by  Kauffman  and  Kesling  (1960).  The  siltstone  matrix 
at  the  apertural  end  was  sawed  away  and  most  of  the  plug  in  the 
umbilicus  on  the  right  side  was  removed  so  that  the  specimen 
might  be  used  to  display  evidence  of  interaction  between  ani- 
mals. Removal  of  the  matrix  in  the  umbilicus  exposed  one  more 
roundish  hole  in  the  shell  and,  bordering  the  umbilicus,  hollow 
spines  which  have  not  been  previously  noted  in  descriptions  of 
this  species  (Anderson  and  Hanna  1935,  p.  20,  pi.  4,  fig.  1;  pi. 
5,  fig.  1-2;  pi.  6,  fig.  3-4;  pi.  7,  fig.  5;  text-fig.  1;  Anderson, 
1958,  p.  225;  Matsumoto,  1959,  p.  38). 

THE  ROUND  HOLES 

The  holes  are  not  truly  round,  but  give  the  impression  of  hav- 
ing been  punched  by  round  objects  intersecting  the  curved, 
ribbed  surface  of  the  ammonite  shell.  In  addition  to  the  five 
roundish  holes  — two  on  one  side,  three  on  the  other  — the 
specimen  has  a small  angular  hole  (Fig.  6)  on  the  abapertural  side 
of  the  umbilicus  that  could  have  been  made  by  the  tip  of  a tooth. 
The  shell  is  not  depressed  around  the  holes  as  in  the  specimen 
described  by  Kauffman  and  Kesling  (1960),  but  each  hole  has 
cracks  radiating  from  it.  The  holes  are  in  the  chambered  portion 
of  the  conch,  and  the  edge  of  the  shell  along  which  most  of  the 
body  chamber  broke  off  resembles  a tear  along  perforations.  If 
the  rounded  embayments  of  this  edge  are  considered  to  represent 
half-tooth  marks,  there  are  ten  tooth  marks.  Figures  1 and  2 dia- 
gram two  possible  bites.  The  plump  rounded  whorls  of  A.  penin- 
sularis are  not  as  advantageously  shaped  for  displaying  the  bite 
of  a mosasaur  as  is  the  discoidal  shape  of  the  Placenticeras  of 


Kauffman  and  Kesling  (1960),  and  other  sortings  of  the  holes 
into  bites  can  be  argued  for.  Camp  (1942)  discussed  two  genera 
of  mosasaurs  from  the  Maestrichtian  of  California,  Plotosaurus 
and  Pleisiotylosaurus,  but  the  limited  record  of  these  “bites” 
(Figs.  1-3,  5-6)  does  not  indict  either.  This  probable  mosasaur 
may  have  regularly  dined  on  ammonite  as  it  seems  to  have  been 
more  efficient  about  acquiring  the  benefits  of  its  chase  than  did 
the  one  inferred  by  Kauffman  and  Kesling.  The  Baja  California 
mosasaur  apparently  required  only  two  bites  to  break  off  the  body 
chamber  and  thus  free  the  edible  soft  parts  rather  than  the  16 
bites  shown  on  the  Placenticeras.  An  even  more  adept  mosasaur 
might  bite  just  at  the  rear  of  the  body  chamber  and  leave  as  a 
record  of  its  predation  only  the  torn-on-perforations  shell  edge. 

THE  HOLLOW  SPINES 

The  spines  on  the  specimen,  UCFA  cat  no.  38765,  are  formed 
by  a thin  outer  layer  of  the  shell  (3rd  abapertural  spine  of  figure  5 
has  wall  ,3mm  thick)  and  are  readily  removed  along  with  the 
matrix  leaving  as  their  bases  of  attachment,  bordering  the  umbil- 
icus, the  flat-topped  tubercles  of  previous  descriptions  (Ander- 
son and  Hanna  1935,  p.  20;  Anderson  1958,  p.  225).  The  maxi- 
mum diameter  of  this  specimen  is  11.8  cm;  the  last  flat-topped 
tubercles  occur  at  a diameter  of  about  7.3  cm.  The  spines  and 
spine  bases  have  been  best  exposed  on  the  last  whorl  of  their 
occurrence;  here  they  are  not  evenly  spaced;  they  occur  on  every 
second  to  fourth  rib.  They  appear  to  be  more  regularly  spaced  on 
earlier  whorls.  The  tallest  spine  (incomplete)  is  8 mm  high;  it  is 
the  next  to  the  last  adapertural  one  preserved  (figure  5)  and  is 
filled  with  crystalline  calcite.  The  last  spine  is  6.5  mm  high,  has 
the  tip  closed,  and  is  probably  nearly  complete.  The  outermost 
end  of  all  the  earlier  formed  ones  were  damaged  in  preparation. 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution 
Richard  Cowen 
Michael  A.  Murphy 
Edward  Wilson 

2Senior  Museum  Scientist,  University  of  California  at  Los  Angeles, 
Department  of  Earth  and  Space  Sciences;  and  Research  Associate  in 
Invertebrate  Paleontology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles 
County. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County  1979.  304:1-8. 


4 


Saul:  Ammonite  ( Anapachydiscus ) 


TABLE  1 

Measurements  (in  mm.)  of  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  (Anderson  and  Hanna.) 


cat.  no. 

maximum 

D 

maximum 

W 

last  flat-topped  tubercle 
W D 

W/D 

CAS  4250 

41.5 

27.5 

too  poorly  preserved 

.66 

paratype,  poorly  preserved 

CAS  4253 

92 

55 

36 

(60) 

.6 

paratype 

UCLA  28717 

107 

58 

29.5 

(54) 

.54 

hypotype 

UCLA  38765 

118 

67.5 

51 

(89) 

.57 

hypotype,  with  spines  and  holes 

CAS  4249 

120 

64 

42 

(79) 

.53 

paratype,  one  spine  showing? 

CAS  4257 

123 

72 

50 

(85) 

.58 

paratype 

CAS  4248 

355 

144 

too  poorly  preserved 

.41 

holotype 

D = diameter;  (D)  = diameter  calculated  from  width  of  whorl;  W = width  of  whorl;  CAS  = California  Academy  of 
Sciences;  UCLA  = University  of  California,  Los  Angeles.  The  average  diameter  at  which  A.  peninsularis  apparently  ceased 
to  generate  spines  was  73  mm.;  however,  two  specimens,  4253  and  28717,  ceased  notably  sooner  at  an  average  diameter  of 
57  mm.  than  the  other  three  measurable  specimens  which  ceased  at  an  average  of  84  mm.  The  gap  in  estimated  size  at  which 
they  ceased  to  grow  spines  may  result  from  measuring  too  few  specimens  or  it  may  be  an  indication  of  sexual  dimorphism. 
The  ratio  W/D  shows  a loss  of  inflation  with  increase  in  size. 


some  because  these  structures  were  unexpected  and  the  others 
because  they  are  so  frail  that  they  adhered  to  the  matrix  being 
removed.  All  except  the  two  abapertural  spines  are  filled  with 
siltstone  and  thus  were  broken  prior  to  entombment.  Earlier 
formed  spines  appear  to  have  been  longer  relative  to  the  size  of 
the  ammonite  shell  than  the  later  ones.  The  thin-walled,  hollow 
spines  were  sealed  off  at  their  bases  by  the  formation  of  the  next 


A 


Figures  1-3.  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  (Anderson  and  Hanna)  with 
aligned  rounded  holes.  Holes  of  near  side  vertically  lined,  of  far  side 
horizontally  lined.  Ammonite  in  presumed  living  position,  arrows  point 
up.  Because  of  the  size  of  the  ammonite  and  its  inflation,  too  few  “tooth 
marks”  are  present  to  determine  direction  of  bite,  but  two  bites  seem  to 
be  required  by  the  positions  of  the  holes.  Figures  1 and  2 diagram  two  of 
several  possible  positions  for  the  bites.  Figure  1.  Bite  a caught  the 
ammonite  and  began  to  break  off  the  body  chamber.  Figure  2.  Bite  b 
broke  off  the  body  chamber.  Figure  3.  All  holes  indicated  and  body 
chamber  restored.  Inferred  body  chamber  length  from  Raup  (1967,  text- 
fig.  16)  is  minimum  length  and  results  in  most  horizontal  bite.  A longer 
body  chamber  rotates  the  diagrammed  ammonite  counter-clockwise  and 
suggests  attack  from  above. 


inner  shell  layer.  The  umbilical  wall  of  the  enveloping  whorl 
does  not  touch  the  spines;  there  is  now  a thin  layer  of  siltstone 
between  spine  and  umbilical  wall,  and  the  spines  apparently 
stood  free. 

The  original  type  lot  of  Parapachy discus  peninsularis  Ander- 
son and  Hanna  comprises  five  specimens.  Of  these,  three  are  not 
well  enough  preserved  to  show  spines  or  flat-topped  tubercles. 
The  smallest  specimen,  California  Academy  of  Sciences  cat.  no. 
4250,  has  strong  ribs  with  obvious  tubercles  bordering  the  umbil- 
icus; but  if  the  tubercles  had  rimmed  flat-tops,  weathering  has 
obliterated  this  detail.  The  specimen  is,  however,  because  of  the 
strength  of  the  ribs,  listed  in  Table  1 as  having  been  spiny 
throughout.  With  spines  of  equivalent  length  to  those  on  UCLA 
cat.  no.  38765,  it  would  have  had  a ventral  profile  like  that  in 
figure  4.  One  of  the  paratypes,  CAS  cat.  no.  4249,  has  a circlet 
of  shell  that  is  probably  a spine  showing  through  the  matrix  in  the 
umbilicus.  As  can  be  seen  from  Table  1,  the  size  at  which  A. 
peninsularis  ceased  to  grow  spines  was  not  consistent.  UCLA 
cat.  no.  28717  (Popenoe  1954,  fig.  3 (9)  ) had  a width  of  only 
29.5  mm  when  its  last  spine  formed;  but  UCLA  cat.  no.  38765 
has  its  last  flat-topped  tubercle  at  a width  of  51  mm.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  two  specimens  of  least  diameter  and  the  three 
of  larger  diameter  may  reflect  sexual  dimorphism,  but  the  sample 
is  too  small  to  be  significant. 

An  Anapachydiscus  was  collected  by  John  Alderson  from  the 
NW'A  of  section  6,  T24S,  R16E,  Cholame  7 Vi  min.  quad.,  Mon- 
terey Co.,  California  (UCLA  loc.  6337),  or  approximately  1 mile 
westward  along  strike  from  LSJU  (Stanford  University)  loc. 
3354,  from  which  Matsumoto  (1959,  p.  38;  1960,  p.  127)  identi- 
fied A napachydiscus  cf.  A.  arrialoorensis  (Stoliczka).  Alderson’s 
specimen  (UCLA  cat.  no.  57245)  is  plumper  and  has  closer 
spaced  stronger  ribs  than  specimens  of  A . peninsularis  from  Baja 
California,  and  thus  resembles  Stoliczka’s  (1865,  p.  126,  pi.  63, 
fig.  2-4;  pi.  64,  fig.  1)  figures  of  Ammonites  arrialoorensis.  It 
differs  from  these  figures  in  having  more  elliptical  spine  bases. 

The  outer  whorl(s?)  of  Alderson’s  Cholame  specimen  was 
broken  and  eroded  and  discarded  in  the  field  leaving  a specimen, 
septate  throughout,  with  diameter  90.5  mm  and  width  53  mm. 
Most  of  one  volution  is  present,  the  inner  whorls  being  broken.  A 
flange  of  shell  that  formed  the  umbilical  flank  of  the  next  outer 


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Saul:  Ammonite  (Anapachydiscus) 


5 


volution  remains  on  the  right  side  of  the  specimen.  The  thickness 
of  this  umbilical  flank  shell  is  about  .6  mm.  Broken  hollow 
spines  are  present  at  a diameter  of  68  mm,  width  approximately 
33  mm.  The  spine  wall  is  almost  one-third  the  thickness  of  the 
flank  wall.  Spines  appear  to  have  been  formed  at  a diameter  of 
87  mm,  width  49  mm,  but  preservation  and  breakage  are  such 
that  I cannot  be  sure  of  their  presence  or  absence.  Also  the  spines 
are  less  obvious  than  on  UCLA  cat.  no.  38765  because  in  the 
Cholame  specimen  the  enveloping  umbilical  wall  nearly  engulfs 
them.  Considering  the  size  to  which  some  Anapachydiscus  grew, 
they  seem  to  have  had  remarkably  thin  shells.  Their  shell  walls 
were  about  one-half  as  thick  as  those  of  Nautilus  pompilius  and 
only  a third  thicker  than  that  of  an  argonaut  of  similar  diameter. 

The  spines  were  apparently  secreted  at  the  apertural  edge  as 
part  of  the  outermost  layer  of  the  conch.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  the  leading  side  of  the  spine  was  open  as  is  commonly  the 
case  with  spines  arming  the  aperture  of  a gastropod.  Compared  to 
spines  on  Mutex  spp.,  the  spines  on  Anapachydiscus  have  a wall 
that  is  one-half  to  one-third  as  thick  and  is  of  equal  thickness  all 
around.  The  diameter  of  the  hollow  center  is  approximately  3 
times  the  thickness  of  the  spine  wall.  Spines  on  Murex  spp.  have 
adaperturally  placed  holes  whose  diameters  are  one-third  or  less 
the  thickness  of  the  spine  wall.  The  sealing  off  of  the  bases  of  the 
Anapachydiscus  spines  probably  took  place  soon  after  their 
formation  as  the  next  inner  strengthening  layer  of  the  conch  was 
deposited.  Since  the  spines  were  apparently  not  open  along  their 
leading  edge  and  were  probably  soon  sealed  off  at  their  base,  it 
seems  unlikely  that  they  functioned  as  supports  for  soft  parts  at 
the  aperture  edge  or  as  channels  for  current  flow. 

Teichert  (1967,  p.  204)  included  spines  on  ammonites  in  his 
tabulation  of  adaptive  devices  to  regulate  buoyancy.  Kennedy 
and  Cobban  (1976,  p.  28)  suggested  that  spines  might  serve  as 
balancing  aids  when  the  shell  rested  on  the  bottom  or  as  hori- 
zontal stabilizers  to  prevent  yawing.  Westermann  (1971,  p 7) 
has  listed  as  functions  of  ornament  on  ammonites:  strengthening 
the  relatively  thin  shell  against  implosion,  protection  against 
impact,  protection  against  smaller  predators,  decrease  of  drag 
under  conditions  of  turbulent  flow,  and  camouflage.  Arkell, 
Kummel,  and  Wright  (in  Moore  1957,  p.  L122)  suggested  that 
spines  could  have  served  as  balancers  or  stabilizers  or  as  a protec- 
tion against  enemies.  It  is  this  latter  function  that  Westermann 
inferred  lateral  and  ventrolateral  spines  to  have  served.  Cephalo- 


Figure  4.  Reconstruction  of  ventral  view  of  young  A.  peninsularis . 
Ammonite  outline  based  on  CAS  4250  and  spines  similar  in  length  to 
those  on  UCLA  38765  added.  Spines  produce  an  obviously  unstreamlined 
outline  and  effectively  increase  width  of  ammonite  with  respect  to  height. 


pods  of  all  kinds  are  noted  for  their  varied  camouflage  techniques 
(Lane  1960,  p.  93-104;  Cowen  et  al.  1973;  Young  and  Roper 
1976),  and  Cowen  et  al.  (1973)  suggest  that  the  primary  func- 
tion of  ammonite  ornament  was  camouflage  for  a nekto- 
benthonic  organism. 

Ornament  to  decrease  drag  is  more  likely  to  be  ribbing  or  nod- 
ing  than  long  spines  (Chamberlain  and  Westermann  1976, 
p.  329).  Such  long  frail  spines  were  probably  not  secreted  to 
strengthen  the  shell.  They  could  have  offered  some  protection 
against  impact,  absorbing  some  of  the  impact  energy  or  perhaps 
more  importantly  putting  distance  between  the  primary  impact 


FIGURES  5-6.  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  (Anderson  and  Hanna). 
UCLA  hypotype  cat.  no.  38765,  x 3/4.  (5)  lateral  view  with  three 
rounded  holes  and  “tom-on-perforation' ' edge  to  broken  body  chamber. 
Twelve  hollow  spines  show  in  umbilicus  and  are  followed  adaperaturally 
by  four  flat-topped,  rimmed  tubercles.  (6)  opposite  side  of  figure  5 with 
two  rounded  holes  and  on  opposite  side  of  umbilicus  one  triangular  hole 
interpreted  as  being  made  by  tip  of  tooth.  Six  flat-topped,  rimmed  tuber- 
cles bordering  the  umbilicus  considered  to  be  bases  of  hollow  spines. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  304:1-8. 


6 


Saul:  Ammonite  (Anapachydiscus) 


and  the  conch,  but  if  this  were  their  main  function  a more  useful 
placement  would  seem  to  be  nearer  the  unprotected  venter,  espe- 
cially if  the  ammonite  was  nekto-benthonic.  Nor  do  they  seem 
well  placed  as  defensive  armaments.  Gastropods  arm  their  aper- 
ture and  anterior  siphon;  the  bivalve  Hysteroconcha  has  spines  on 
its  corcelet  which  thus  surround  the  siphons;  but  the  spines  on 
young  Anapachydiscus  neither  surround  soft  parts  nor  are  they  on 
the  outer  perimeter  of  the  animal  to  discourage  attack.  They  are 
thinner  walled  and  even  though  liquid  filled  were  apparently 
frailer  structures  than  the  probably  defensive  spines  of  the  gas- 
tropods and  bivalves.  They  would  have  increased  the  apparent 
size  of  the  young  ammonite  and  so  might  have  discouraged  some 
smaller  predator.  The  need  for  camouflage  (Cowen  et  al.  1973, 
p.  211)  was  in  part  inferred  from  the  paucity  of  ammonite  speci- 
mens showing  pigmentation,  but  some  few  specimens  have  been 
found  (e.g.,  Arkell  in  Moore  1957,  p.  L92;  Reyment  1958)  and 
some  indicate  the  presence  of  Nautilus- like  counter  shading. 

Surrogate  ammonites  were  formed  of  sculpturing  and  investing 
waxes.  The  investing  wax  was  heavier,  the  sculpturing  wax 
lighter  than  water.  As  it  has  been  suggested  that  ammonite  and 
shell  were  of  near  neutral  buoyancy  (Trueman  1941;  Raup  and 
Chamberlain  1967),  waxes  were  melted  together  empirically  until 
disks  of  approximately  neutral  buoyancy  were  obtained.  These 
disks  were  of  similar  diameter  and  width  to  the  small  paratype 
CAS  cat.  no.  4250.  Being  homogeneous,  they  lacked  the  orient- 
ing separated  centers  of  gravity  and  buoyancy  of  actual  ammo- 
nites (Trueman  1941,  figs.  14  and  15).  Such  a wax  disk,  lighter 
than  water,  comes  to  rest  floating  with  either  lateral  side  up  and 
the  venter  directed  horizontally.  Disks  of  near  neutral  buoyancy 
also  usually  settled  toward  a similar  position,  and  a heavier  disk 
sank  and  usually  lay  flat  on  the  bottom.  The  addition  of  lateral 
spines  gave  the  disks  vertical  stability,  and  they  floated  or  sank 
with  the  venter  directed  vertically.  For  the  light  disk  the  spines 
had  to  be  quite  long  to  change  its  orientation  in  the  water,  at  least 
twice  as  long  as  those  on  A.  peninsularis . Spines  of  similar 
length  to  those  on  A.  peninsularis  gave  the  neutrally  buoyant  and 
heavier  disks  vertical  stability  and  greatly  slowed  the  descent  of 
the  heavier  disk.  Vertical  stability  could  also  be  achieved  by 
carving  out  rough  umbilici  and  adding  the  wax  to  the  ventro- 
lateral margin  to  produce  a shape  similar  to  young  Tropites  sub- 
bullatus  (Hauer).  The  greater  breadth  of  young  A.  peninsularis 
relative  to  adult  (Table  1)  may  have  also  tended  to  increase  ver- 
tical stability  in  the  young  although  the  breadth  of  young  A. 
peninsularis  is  not  great  enough  to  produce  vertical  stability  in 
the  absence  of  spines.  Spines  are  not  considered  to  have  provided 
all  vertical  stabilization.  Well  separated  centers  of  buoyancy  and 
gravity  would  also  lend  vertical  stability  in  addition  to  apertural 
stability,  but  the  somewhat  depressed  form  and  probably  longer 
body  chamber  (Raup  1967,  fig.  16)  of  young  A.  peninsularis 
would  have  caused  the  centers  of  buoyancy  and  gravity  to  be 
closer  together  (Trueman  1941,  p.  371).  The  spines  would  have 
provided  added  stability.  They  were  of  appropriate  length  to  pro- 
vide a neutrally  buoyant  ammonite  similar  to  the  small  paratype 
with  vertical  stability. 

A pelagic  youth  has  generally  been  assumed  for  ammonoids 
(Arkell,  Kummel,  and  Wright,  in  Moore  1957,  p.  L100;  Ken- 
nedy and  Cobban  1976,  p.  34).  Cowen  et  al.  (1973,  p.  211) 
suggest  that  the  sculpture  of  ribbed  ammonites  indicates  that  they 
were  necto-benthonic  inhabitants  of  the  photic  zone,  their  sculp- 
ture serving  to  hide  them  from  the  predator  above,  and  their  close 
association  with  the  bottom  insuring  that  there  was  seldom  a 


predator  below.  That  ammonites  lived  in  the  photic  zone  is  also 
suggested  by  the  discovery  that  unlike  the  nocturnal  Nautilus  and 
some  deep  water  octopods,  at  least  some  ammonites  had  an  ink- 
sack  (Lehmann  1971a,  p.  1262).  As  the  spines  on  young  A. 
peninsularis  and  A.  cf.  A.  arrialoorensis  would  not  have  im- 
proved the  streamlining  of  a shell  which  was  already  poorly 
streamlined  (Kummel  and  Lloyd  1955;  Chamberlain  1976), 
swimming  must  have  been  at  a rather  deliberate  pace,  the 
entrapment  of  food  effected  without  much  darting  about.  The 
holotype  of  A.  peninsularis  is  over  35  cm  in  diameter  and  much 
less  strongly  ornamented  on  its  outer  whorls  and  similarly  less 
ornamented  than  specimens  of  less  than  9 cm  diameter.  This 
reduction  in  relief  of  ribbing  can  be  considered  to  accord  with 
findings  of  Chamberlain  and  Westermann  (1976,  p.  328)  that 
ribbing  can  serve  to  reduce  drag  and  conserve  propulsive  power 
on  smaller  ammonites,  but  that  large  ones  should  be  smooth. 
Young  A.  peninsularis,  however,  additionally  had  spines,  and  it 
does  not  merely  become  smoother  as  it  approaches  10  cm  in 
diameter;  it  also  becomes  higher  relative  to  width  and  reduces  the 
relative  size  of  its  umbilicus,  thus  improving  streamlining  slight- 
ly 

This  complex  of  morphologic  changes  suggests  that  spiny 
young  Anapachydiscus  peninsularis  may  have  been  virtually 
planktonic  and  feeding  on  plankton.  Ammonites  have  usually 
been  considered  to  share  the  macrophagous  diet  of  other  living 
cephalopods,  but  a microphagous  plankton-feeding  mode  of  life 
has  been  suggested  for  some  (Morton  and  Yonge  in  Wilbur  and 
Yonge  1964,  p.  49;  Busnardo  1965,  p.  110;  Kennedy  and  Cob- 
ban 1976,  p.  35),  and  Lehmann  (1971b,  p.  339)  reports  the  pre- 
served crops  of  ammonites  containing  the  remains  of  prey  too 


Figure  7.  Hypothetical  ammonite  with  eight  webbed  cirrated  arms. 
Webbed  arms  suggested  by  distribution  of  epizoans  of  Seilacher  (I960) 
and  Meischner  (1968).  In  both  cases  the  epizoans  were  able  to  settle  on 
the  living  ammonite  shell  posterior  to  the  aperture  and  on  the  body  cham- 
ber especially  on  the  venter.  They  did  not  settle  on  the  conch  above  the 
aperture.  If  the  ammonite  had  tentacles  as  does  Nautilus  this  selective 
infestation  would  not  be  expected,  and  long  arms  as  in  Argonauta  would 
be  able  to  sweep  the  whole  conch  clean.  But  webbed  arms  should  be  able 
to  remove  any  larvae  from  the  conch  above  the  aperture  while  being 
restrained  from  reaching  the  lower  and  rearward  portions  of  the  conch 
Webbed  arms  could  be  used  to  trap  food  or  also  for  propulsion  as  in 
octopods  (Lane  1960,  p.  69). 


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Saul:  Ammonite  (Anapachydiscus) 


7 


small  tor  the  application  of  jaws.  Studies  of  the  jaws  themselves 
(Kaiser  and  Lehmann  1971)  indicate  that  the  jaws  of  ammonites 
were  not  capable  of  actual  biting.  Reconstruction  of  the  living 
ammonite  is  often  based  on  analogy  with  Nautilus  (e.g.,  Arkell 
in  Moore  1957.  p.  L82,  fig.  124);  but  Nautilus  may  be  a poor 
model  for  ammonites  (Mutvei  and  Reyment  1973;  Kennedy  and 
Cobban  1976,  p.  2).  Lehmann  (1971a  and  b)  has  shown  that  the 
radula  of  ammonites  is  more  like  that  of  octopods  and  Vampyro- 
morpha;  and  Flower  (1955,  p.  866)  has  argued  for  fewer  arms, 
than  the  60+  tentacles  possessed  by  Nautilus,  in  groups  consid- 
ered ancestral  to  ammonites  (Sweet  and  Moore  in  Moore  1964, 
p.  K 101 , fig.  70).  Mutvei  and  Reyment  ( 1973,  p.  632)  propose  a 
long  bodied  ammonite  without  funnel.  But  their  proposed  long 
ctenidia  in  narrow  mantle  cavity  would  require  maintenance  of  a 
current  of  water  to  ward  off  asphixiation,  and  as  the  funnel  is 
primarily  a means  of  ejecting  from  the  mantle  cavity  water  which 
has  passed  over  the  ctenidia,  the  funnel  is  here  retained  to  aid 
respiration.  Figure  7 equips  young  A.  peninsular  is  with  eight 
webbed  cirri-bearing  arms.  The  position  of  the  arms  back  over 
the  upper  part  of  the  shell  was  suggested  by  the  distribution  of 
epibionts  described  by  Seilacher  (1960)  and  Meischner  (1968). 
Webbed  arms  with  cirri  (as  suggested  by  Kaiser  and  Lehmann 
1971,  p.  31)  could  have  been  used  by  young  planktonic  A. 
peninsularis  to  gather  in  a planktonic  feast  as  its  outrigger  spines 
steadied  it  in  the  water. 

The  abandonment  of  spines,  reduction  of  sculpture,  increase  of 
height  and  decrease  of  umbilical  size  may  mark  the  change  to 
greater  swimming  ability  and  more  actively  pelagic  life.  The 
thinness  of  the  shell  suggests  that  this  did  not  lead  to  the  explora- 
tion of  great  depths. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The  other  members  of  our  safari,  W.P.  Popenoe,  R.B.  Saul, 
and  W.C.  Cornell,  made  the  collecting  trip  possible.  Robert 
Springfels  donated  sculpturing  and  investment  waxes.  Peter  U. 
Rodda  granted  permission  to  study  the  type  specimens  of  Para- 
pachydiscus  peninsularis  Anderson  and  Flanna  at  the  California 
Academy  of  Sciences.  John  Alderson  became  interested  in  the 
spines  and  loaned  a specimen  of  Anapachydiscus  cf.  A.  arria- 
loorensis  (Stoliczka)  for  comparison.  The  manuscript  has  been 
improved  by  the  suggestion  and  needed  criticism  of  R.B.  Saul, 
W.P.  Popenoe,  G.B.  Cleveland,  M.A.  Murphy,  and  R.  Cowen. 
Final  drafting  of  figures  1-4  was  by  Victoria  Doyle  Jones.  To  all 
of  the  above  I am  grateful. 

RESUMEN 

Un  especimen  de  la  temprana  epoca  Maestrichtian  Anapachy- 
discus peninsularis  (Anderson  y Hanna)  de  Arroyo  Santa  Cata- 
rina, Baja  California,  Mexico,  tiene  cavidades  casi  redondas 
taladradas  en  la  concha  arregladas  de  tal  ntanera  que  sugieren 
muestras  de  las  mordeduras  del  mosasaur.  Las  tempranas  es- 
pirales  estan  adornadas  con  huecas  espinas  laterales,  las  cuales 
podrian  haber  servido  de  estabilizadores  verticales. 

LITERATURE  CITED 

Anderson,  F.M.  1958.  Upper  Cretaceous  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Geol.  Soc.  America,  Mem.  71:378  pp.,  75  pis. 


Anderson,  F.M.  and  G.D.  Hanna.  1935.  Cretaceous  geology 
of  Lower  California.  Calif.  Acad.  Sci.,  Proc.  Ser.  4, 
23:1-34,  pi.  1-11,  2 figs. 

Busnardo,  R.  1965.  Lithologie  et  macrofaune.  France  Bur. 
Rech.  Geol.  Min.,  Mem.  34  [Colloque  sur  le  Cretace  in- 
ferieur,  Lyon,  septembre  1963]:  101- 1 16,  2 figs.,  tables. 

Camp,  C.L.  1942.  California  mosasaurs.  Univ.  Calif.  Mem. 
13:vi  + 1-68,  fronds.,  pi.  1-7,  26  figs. 

Chamberlain,  J.A.  1976.  Flow  patterns  and  drag  coefficients  of 
cephalopod  shells.  Palaeontology,  19:539-563,  16  figs. 

Chamberlain,  J.A.  and  G. E.G.  Westermann  1976.  Hydrody- 
namic properties  of  cephalopod  shell  ornament.  Paleobiol- 
ogy 2:316-331,  13  figs. 

Cowen,  R.,  R.  Gertman  and  G.  Wiggett  1973.  Camouflage 
patterns  in  Nautilus,  and  their  implications  for  cephalopod 
paleobiology.  Lethaia  6:201-213,  9 figs. 

Flower,  R.H.  1955.  Trails  and  tentacular  impressions  of  ortho- 
conic cephalopods.  J.  Paleontol.  29:857-867,  4 figs. 

Kaiser,  P.  and  U.  Lehmann  1971.  Verfleichende  Studien  zur 
Evolution  des  Kieferapparates  rezenter  und  fossiler  Ceph- 
alopoden.  Palaont.  Zeitsch.  45:18-32,  5 abb. 

Kauffman,  E.G.  and  R.V.  Kesling.  1960.  An  Upper  Cre- 
taceous ammonite  bitten  by  a mosasaur.  Univ.  Mich.  Contr. 
Mus.  Paleo.  15:193-248,  9 pis.,  7 figs. 

Kennedy,  W.J.  and  W.A.  Cobban.  1976.  Aspects  of  ammonite 
biology,  biogeography,  and  biostratigraphy.  Palaeontol. 
Ass.  London  Spec.  Papers  Palaeontol.  17:94,  11  pis., 
24  figs.,  5 tables. 

Kummel,  B.  and  R.M.  Lloyd  1955.  Experiments  on  relative 
streamlining  of  coiled  cephalopod  shells.  J.  Paleontol. 
29:159-170,  5 figs. 

Lane,  F.W.  1960.  Kingdon  of  the  octopus.  Sheridan  House, 
New  York,  300  p.,  48  pis.,  13  figs. 

Lehmann,  U.  1971a.  New  aspects  in  ammonite  biology.  N. 
Amer.  Paleontol.  Conv.  Chicago  1969,  Proc.,  Allen  Press, 
Lawrence,  Kansas,  2:pp.  1251-  1269,  9 figs. 

. 1971b.  Jaws,  radula,  and  crop  of  Arnioceras  (Ammo- 

noidea).  Paleontology,  14:338-341,  pi.  61. 

MATSUMOTO,  T.  1959.  Upper  Cretaceous  ammonites  of  Califor- 
nia, Part  II.  Kyushu  Univ.  Fac.  Sci.,  Mem.  Ser.  D,  Geol- 
ogy, Spec.  vol.  1,  172pp.,  pis.  1-41,  80  figs. 

. 1960.  Upper  Cretaceous  ammonites  of  California,  Part 

III.  Kyushu  Univ.,  Fac.  Sci.,  Mem.  Ser.  D,  Geology,  Spec, 
vol.  2,  204  pp.,  2 pis.,  20  figs. 

Meischner,  D.  1968.  Pemiciose  Epokie  von  Placunopsis  auf 
Ceratites.  Lethaia  1:156-174,  10  abb. 

Moore,  R.C.  [ed.].  1957.  Treatise  on  invertebrate  paleontology. 
Lawrence,  Kansas:  Kansas  Univ.  Press  and  Geol.  Soc. 
America,  Pt.  L,  Mollusca  4,  Cephalopoda,  Ammo- 
noidea:  490  pp.,  558  figs. 

. 1964.  Treatise  on  invertebrate  paleontology.  Law- 
rence, Kansas:  Kansas  Univ.  Press  and  Geol.  Soc.  Amer- 
ica., Pt.  K,  Mollusca  3,  Cephalopoda  — General  Features 
— Endoceratoidea  — Actinoceratoidea  — Nautiloidea  — 
Bactritoidea:  519  pp.,  361  figs. 

Mutvei,  H.  and  R.A.  Reyment.  1973.  Buoyancy  control  and 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  304:1-8. 


Saul:  Ammonite  (Anapachydiscus) 


siphuncle  function  in  ammonoids.  Palaeontology 
16:623-636,  8 figs. 

Popenoe,  W.P.  1954.  Mesozoic  formations  and  faunas,  southern 
California  and  northern  Baja  California.  Calif.  Div.  Mines 
Bull.  170,  (III,  Historical  Geology):  15- 21,  4 figs. 

Raup.  D.M.  1967.  Geometric  analysis  of  shell  coiling:  coiling  in 
ammonoids.  J.  Paleontol.  41:43-65,  19  figs. 

Raup,  D M.  and  J.A.  Chamberlain,  jr  1967.  Equations  for 
volume  and  center  of  gravity  in  ammonoid  shells.  J.  Paleon- 
tol. 41:566-574,  3 figs. 

Reyment,  R.A.  1957.  Uber  Farbspuren  bei  einigen  Ammoniten. 
N.  Jahrb.  Geol.  Palaont.,  Monat.:343-351,  3 figs. 

Seilacher,  A.  1960.  Epizoans  as  a key  to  ammonoid  ecology.  J. 
Paleontol.  34:189-  193,  3 figs. 

Stoliczka,  F.  1863-66.  Ammonitidae,  with  revision  of  the 
Nautilidae,  etc.  In  Blanford,  M.F.  and  F.  Stoliczka, 
1861-  1866.  The  fossil  cephalopods  of  the  Cretaceous  rocks 
of  southern  India.  India  Geol.  Surv.  Mem.,Palaeont.  Indica, 
Ser.  3,  216  pp.,  95  pis.  [41-56,  pi.  26-3 1 , 1863;  57-  106, 
pis.  32-54,  1864;  107-154,  pi.  55-80,  pi.  66a,  1865; 
155-216,  pis.  81-94,  1866], 


Teichert,  C.  1967.  Major  features  of  cephalopod  evolution.  In 
Teichert.  C.  and  E.  Yochelson  [eds.j.  Essays  in  paleon- 
tology and  stratigraphy.  Univ.  Kansas  Press;  Lawrence, 
Kansas:pp.  162-210,  20  figs.,  1 table. 

Trueman,  A.E.  1941.  The  ammonite  body-chamber,  with  spe- 
cial reference  to  the  buoyancy  and  mode  of  life  of  the  living 
ammonite.  Geol.  Soc.  London,  Quart.  Jour.  96:339-383, 
17  figs. 

Westermann,  G.E.G.  1971.  Form,  structure  and  function  of 
shell  and  siphuncle  in  coiled  Mesozoic  ammonoids.  Royal 
Ontario  Mus.,  Life  Sci.  Contrib.  78:39  pp.,  17  figs. 

Wilbur,  K.M.  and  C.M.  Yonge  [eds.j.  1964.  Physiology  of 
Mollusca.  Academic  Press,  New  York  and  London,  1:473 
pp. , 11:645  pp. 

Young,  R.E.  andC.F.E.  Roper  1976.  Bioluminescent  counter- 
shading in  midwater  animals:  evidence  from  living  squid. 
Science,  191:1046-1048. 

Accepted  for  publication  July  5,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  304:1-8. 


Number  305 
March  16,  1979 





NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNT 


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A NEW  MILLIPED  OF  THE  GENUS  TRICHOMORPHA  FROM  COCOS 


THE  NEW  TRIBE  TRICHOMORPHINI  (POLYDESMIJ&A:  CHELODESMIDAE) 

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Number  305 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 


NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


CHELODESMID  STUDIES.  VIII. 

A NEW  MILLIPED  OF  THE  GENUS  TRICHOMORPHA  FROM  COCOS 
ISLAND,  WITH  NOTES  ON  RELATED  SPECIES  AND  THE  PROPOSAL 
OF  THE  NEW  TRIBE  TRICHOMORPHINI  (POLYDESMIDA:  CHELODESMIDAE) 


By  Richard  L.  Hoffman 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


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3 


CHELODESMID  STUDIES.  VIII. 

A NEW  MILLIPED  OF  THE  GENUS  TRICHOMORPHA  FROM  COCOS 
ISLAND,  WITH  NOTES  ON  RELATED  SPECIES  AND  THE  PROPOSAL 
OF  THE  NEW  TRIBE  TRICHOMORPHINI  (POLYDESMIDA:  CHELODESMIDAE)1 

By  Richard  L.  Hoffman2 


Abstract;  A new  species  of  chelodesmid  milliped,  Trichomorpha  hyla,  is  described  from  Cocos  Island, 
Costa  Rica.  It  differs  from  T.  folium  (Brolemann),  from  the  same  island  in  reduced  tergal  setation,  absence  of 
lateral  paranotal  dentation,  lack  of  middorsal  pink  spots,  and  in  a less  complex  gonopod  structure.  The  new 
tribe  Trichomorphini  is  proposed  to  accommodate  the  genera  Trichomorpha,  Phylactophallus,  Ancholeptodes- 
mus,  Belonodesmus,  Allarithmus,  Talamancia,  and  the  new  genus  Loomisiola,  based  on  Trichomorpha  crini- 
tapes  Loomis,  1972,  from  Costa  Rica.  The  new  name  Trichomorpha  crucicola  is  proposed  to  replace  T. 
gracilis  Loomis,  1974,  preoccupied  by  T.  gracilis  Carl,  1914. 


Dr.  C.  L.  Hogue,  Senior  Curator  in  Entomology  in  the  Natural 
History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  recently  placed  in  my 
hands  a small  collection  of  diplopods  picked  up  by  him  on  Cocos 
Island.  Most  of  the  specimens  are  female  pyrgodesmoids  and  not 
definitely  identifiable  to  genus  or  species,  but  there  is  one  adult 
male  of  an  undescribed  species  in  the  chelodesmoid  genus  Tri- 
chomorpha, which  is  being  described  here  in  order  to  make  the 
name  available  for  use  in  Dr.  Hogue’s  studies.  The  occasion  is 
taken  to  append  some  additional  information  on  the  nomenclature 
and  taxonomy  of  the  genus  and  related  forms. 

Trichomorpha,  endemic  to  the  region  between  Ecuador  and 
Costa  Rica,  is  apparently  now  in  the  expanding  phase  of  its  phy- 
logeny,  as  the  known  species  are  very  numerous  and  yet  basically 
similar  in  terms  of  general  gonopod  structure;  specific  differentia- 
tion is  most  pronounced  in  various  external  non-sexual  character- 
istics. Synrpatry  and  apparent  syntopy  seem  to  be  common.  In 
most  features  Trichomorpha  appears  to  be  a rather  specialized 
genus  of  chelodesmoids,  apparently  related  to  members  of  the 
tribe  Batodesnnni,  which  has  a very  similar  geographic  distribu- 
tion. Along  with  several  other  genera  of  the  northern  Andean- 
Pananranian  region,  Trichomorpha  can  be  segregated  into  another 
distinct  tribe  which  is  proposed  later  in  this  paper. 

I wish  to  express  here  my  thanks  to  Dr.  Hogue  for  providing 
the  occasion  for  preparation  of  the  following  information  about 
this  group  of  interesting  Neotropical  myriapods. 

FAMILY  CHELODESMIDAE 

Genus  Trichomorpha  Silvestri 

Trichomorpha  Silvestri  1898,  Boll  Mus.  Torino,  vol.  12,  no.  305, 
p . 11.  Type  species;  T.  elegans  Silvestri  1898  (Ecuador),  by  mono- 
typy. 

Eihophallus  Chamberlin  1933,  Pan-Pacif.  Entom.,  vol.  9,  p 20.  Type 
species,  E.  cervantes  Chamberlin  1933  (Costa  Rica),  by  original 
designation. 


Typophallus  Chamberlin  1940,  Bull.  Univ.  Utah  (biol.  ser.),  vol.  5,  no. 
6,  p.  10.  Type  species,  T.  evidens  Chamberlin  1940  (Panama)  by 
original  designation. 

Desmaehrides  Chamberlin  1940,  op.  cit . , p . 11  Type  species,  D 
dichrus  Chamberlin  1940  (Panama),  by  original  designation. 

DIAGNOSIS:  A trichomorphine  genus  in  which  the  gonopod 
prefemur  is  short  to  moderate  in  length  and  the  femur  greatly 
reduced  or  absent,  the  solenomerite  appearing  to  originate  at  the 
end  of  the  prefemur;  postfemoral  elements  simple  to  complex  in 
form,  but  usually  partially  enclosing  solenomerite.  Coxa  with 
prominent  dorsal  apophysis.  Anterior  legs  of  males  with  large 
distal  tibial  pad,  subtending  the  tarsus;  in  some  species  the  coxa 
and  femur  of  the  7th  pair  of  legs  are  lobed  or  otherwise  modified. 
Anterior  sterna  with  or  without  paramedian  processes  or  lobes. 
Prefemora  of  some  or  all  legs  usually  with  apical  spine  in  both 
sexes.  Antennae  long  and  slender,  extending  back  at  least  to 
paranota  of  3rd  segment. 

NOTES:  About  40  specific  names  have  been  based  upon 
specimens  referable  to  this  genus,  as  well  as  a number  of  unjusti- 
fiable generic  names.  Loomis  (1964,  1972)  has  shown  some  of 
these  names  to  be  synonyms  and  so  reduced  the  total  somewhat, 
but  a number  of  undescribed  species  at  hand,  and  the  small  frac- 
tion of  the  generic  range  that  has  been  sampled  thus  far,  suggest 
that  eventually  as  many  as  200  species  of  Trichomorpha  may  be 
discovered. 

In  1972  Loomis  merged  the  name  Eihophallus  with  Tricho- 
morpha, but  in  a later  paper  (1974)  kept  the  two  separate  on  the 


‘Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution; 

Charles  L.  Hogue 
W. A. Shear 
Rowland  Shelley 

“Professor  of  Biology,  Radford  College,  Radford,  Virginia  24142. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  305:1-7. 


4 


Hoffman:  Isla  del  Coco  Milliped 


basis  of  a supposed  difference  in  proportions  of  several  podo- 
meres.  Having  the  opportunity  to  study  type  material  in  the  col- 
lection of  the  late  R.  V.  Chamberlin,  I can  verify  that  Ethophal- 
lus  cervanrcs  is  in  fact  only  a species  of  Trichomorpha  and  the 
‘difference’  in  lengths  of  the  tibia  and  tarsus  entirely  illusory.  At 
the  same  time  I can  confirm  Loomis’s  disposal  of  the  two  names 
Typophallus  and  Desmachrides  as  strict  junior  synonyms  of  Tri- 
chomorpha. 

The  name  Trichomorpha  gracilis,  proposed  by  Loomis  in  1974 
for  a Costa  Rican  species,  is  preoccupied  by  Trichomorpha 
gracilis  Carl  1914,  from  Colombia.  On  learning  of  my  intention 
to  describe  the  Cocos  Island  species,  Mr.  Loomis  asked  me  to 
use  the  occasion  to  provide  a new  name  for  his  gracilis.  1 here- 
with propose  the  new  name  Trichomorpha  crucicola,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  type  locality  (Finca  las  Cruces,  near  San  Vito,  Costa 
Rica). 

Trichomorpha  hyla  new  species 

Figures  1-8 

Holotype.  — Adult  male  (LACM)  collected  at  Wafer  Bay,  Cocos  Is- 
land, Costa  Rica,  18  April  1975,  by  Charles  L.  Hogue. 

DIAGNOSIS:  A moderate-sized  member  of  the  genus  character- 
ized by  the  smooth  metaterga,  each  with  only  two  setae;  presence 
of  tibial  pads  on  legs  2-6  of  males;  denticulate  posterior  edge  of' 
most  paranota;  occurrence  of  paramedian  processes  on  the  sterna 
between  legs  of  the  2nd,  3rd,  and  5th  pairs,  and  of  a prominent  basal 
lobe  on  the  femora  of  the  7th  pair;  and  by  the  relative  simplicity  of 
gonopod  structure,  the  acropodite  set  off  by  a distinct  suture  and 
virtually  without  any  lobes  or  processes. 

DESCRIPTION:  Body  ca.  17.0  mm  in  length,  2.1  mm  wide 
over  most  body  segments,  W/L  ratio  about  12.4%.  Body  gener- 
ally light  brown.  Metaterga  pale  testaceous  brown,  fading  to 
nearly  colorless  on  the  paranota,  dorsal  surface  of  prozona  darker 
brown,  imparting  a somewhat  annulate  appearance  with  low 
magnification.  Labrum  and  clypeus  nearly  colorless,  basal  anten- 
nomere  very  pale  brown,  2nd-6th  antennomeres  fuscous,  7th 
nearly  white.  Podosterna  and  midventrum  of  prozona  whitish, 
basal  four  podomeres  also  nearly  white,  tibia  light  brown,  tarsus 
dark  brown  except  for  apical  fourth  which  is  white. 

Head  of  normal  appearance  for  the  genus,  front  with  sparse, 
prominent,  setiferous  punctures;  epicranial  suture  fine  but  distinct 
down  to  level  of  antennae;  genae  convex,  lateral  margin  narrow 
but  well-defined,  with  five  or  six  marginal  setae.  Ventral  edge  of 
labrum  marginate  except  proximad  to  median  teeth;  8-8  labral 
setae.  Interantennal  space  broad,  wider  than  length  of  1st  anten- 
nomere.  Antennae  long  and  slender,  articles  5 and  6 with  well- 
defined,  oval,  white,  sensory  field  on  outer  distal  surface.  Sen- 
sory cones  small,  indistinctly  grouped  into  two  diads. 

Collum  about  as  wide  as  head,  surface  convex,  smooth  and 
polished;  lateral  ends  acute,  forming  about  a 70°  angle,  lateral 
edges  set  off  up  to  level  of  mandibular  articulation.  8 setae  along 
anterior  margin,  and  4 in  a transverse  row  approximately  at  mid- 
length. 

Body  segments  not  deeply  telescoped,  paranota  thus  well-sep- 
arated, subsegments  not  strongly  separated,  stricture  shallow,  its 
anterior  edge  sharply  defined.  Paranota  well  developed,  set  high 
on  body  and  nearly  horizontal,  middorsum  somewhat  convex, 
surface  of  metaterga  smooth  and  polished,  with  two  paramedian 
setae;  transverse  sulcus  evident  on  segments  5-  17,  dorsal  surface 
of  paranota  slightly  convex  basally.  Posterior  comers  of  all  para- 

Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  305:1-7. 


nota  acute,  becoming  increasingly  prolonged  and  subspiniform 
back  to  about  segment  17,  posterior  edge  of  most  paranota  dis- 
tinctly denticulate,  lateral  edge  with  prominent  offset  at  mid- 
length on  segments  2-7,  thereafter  nearly  smooth  and  straight 
(Figs.  1,  2);  ozopores  opening  dorsolaterad,  peritremata  moder- 
ately developed,  elongate,  not  set  off  from  remainder  of  para- 
notal  edge;  anterior  corners  of  paranota  with  a prominent  denticu- 
lation.  Paranota  of  segment  19  small,  curved  mesad. 

Epiproct  of  normal  shape,  but  lateral  and  apical  dorsal  tuber- 
cules  a little  more  prominent  than  usual  (Fig.  3).  Paraprocts  and 
hypoproct  without  peculiarities. 

Sterna  of  midbody  segments  broad  (about  equal  to  combined 
length  of  coxa  and  prefemur),  slightly  elevated  above  prozona, 
smooth  and  glabrous,  with  indistinct  transverse  groove,  no  sub- 
coxal  spines  or  lobes.  Stigmata  minute,  without  raised  edges. 
Side  of  metazona  smooth.  Pleurosternal  carinae  visible  only  on 
first  two  or  three  segments.  Prefemora  with  prominent  apical 
spine  from  2nd  to  18th  pair  of  legs.  Tibial  pads  present  on  legs  of 
2nd- 6th  pairs,  much  the  largest  anteriorly  where  about  2/3rds 
length  of  tarsus.  Tarsal  claw  small  and  straight. 

Gonopores  opening  flush  with  surface  of  coxae  of  2nd  pair  of 
legs.  Sternum  between  3rd  pair  of  legs  with  two  small  para- 
median lappets,  that  between  4th  pair  of  legs  with  very  large, 
compressed,  divergent,  apically  truncated  processes  (Fig.  4),  that 
between  6th  pair  of  legs  with  two  small  contiguous  acutely  coni- 
cal projections  (Fig.  5).  Coxae  of  6th  and  7th  legs  produced  ven- 
trad,  the  projection  especially  prominent  on  7th  legs,  the  femora 
of  which  are  provided  with  a large  proximal  lobe  or  process  on 
the  ventral  side  (Fig.  5). 

Gonopod  aperture  transverse,  lateral  and  posterior  edges  pro- 
duced ventrad,  anterior  edge  unmodified;  gonopods  projecting 
forward  over  sternum  of  6th  segment,  of  the  form  shown  in  fig- 
ures 6-8.  Coxae  without  median  sternal  remnant  (Fig.  6),  the 
dorsal  apophysis  robust,  with  two  setae;  telopodite  attached  at  a 
right  angle  to  coxa,  nearly  straight,  setose  prefemoral  region 
about  one-third  total  length  of  telopodite,  femoral  region  strongly 
reduced  and  indicated  only  by  the  point  of  origin  of  the  solenom- 
erite;  latter  slender,  nearly  straight,  its  entire  length  visible  in 
mesal  aspect  (Fig.  8);  postfemoral  region  a simple,  spatulate, 
apically  concave  process  with  a small  thin  lamella  on  the  dorsal 
side.  Lateral  side  with  a prominent  postfemoral  cingulum  (Fig.  7, 
C). 

NOTES:  Dr.  Hogue  supplied  the  following  information  on  the 
habitat  of  this  species  (in  litt. . 19  September  1975):  “All  of  this 
material  definitely  came  from  bromeliads,  although  the  collect- 
ing occurred  fairly  close  to  ground  level,  approximately  4-6  feet. 
The  specimens  were  taken  from  very  large  plants  growing  on 
downed  logs  and  branches  of  Hibiscus  tiliaceus,  a mangrove 
species.  The  ground  beneath  the  site  from  which  the  millipeds 
came  was  Hooded  by  high  tide  twice  daily.’’ 

The  relationships  of  this  species  are  not  easy  to  establish. 
There  are  now  about  35  presumably  valid  species  of  Tricho- 
morpha, 22  of  them  described  from  Colombia,  5 from  Panama, 
and  6 from  Costa  Ricas.  Attems  (1938)  gave  a key  to  20  South 
American  species,  but  was  unable  to  include  most  of  the  forms 
named  by  Chamberlin  because  of  inadequate  descriptions.  An 
additional  member  of  this  genus  (T.  folium  Brolemann  1903)  was 
misplaced  by  Attems  in  Camptomorpha,  where  it  has  no  affini- 
ties whatever. 

T.  hyla  will  not  trace  through  Attems'  1938  key  at  all,  being 
excluded  by  both  of  the  choices  in  the  first  couplet  (metaterga 


Hoffman:  Isla  del  Coco  Milliped 


5 


with  numerous  irregular  setae  as  opposed  to  setae  in  two  or  three 
transverse  rows).  In  this  species  each  metatergum  has  only  a sin- 
gle row  composed  of  two  setae,  placed  paramedially  behind  the 
transverse  sulcus  (increasing  to  four  on  the  last  few  segments). 
On  the  basis  of  “best  fit’’  we  select  the  second  choice,  T. 
venusta  Carl  1914,  from  Colombia,  but  hyla  differs  from  this 
form  in  a number  of  ways  including  a different  gonopod  struc- 
ture. 

Of  the  four  Panamanian  species  keyed  by  Loomis  ( 1964),  hyla 
runs  out  to  T.  nidicola  Chamberlin,  but  differs  in  lacking  a pale 
middorsal  line  and  lateral  paranotal  dentations  (four  to  six  prom- 
inent teeth  in  nidicola). 

Six  Costa  Rican  species  are  keyed  by  Loomis  (1972),  of  them 
hyla  comes  closest  to  T.  folium,  coincidentally  the  Trichomorpha 
already  known  from  Cocos  Island. 

In  light  of  present  knowledge  of  the  genus,  it  seems  impossible 
to  confidently  relate  T.  hyla  to  any  mainland  species,  and  for  the 
present  it  may  be  justifiable  to  consider  it  a valid  species  endemic 
to  Cocos  Island.  In  this  respect  then,  comparison  needs  be  made 
primarily  with  T.  folium  (Brolemann). 

This  species  was  supported  by  a detailed  description  and  good 
drawings,  and  the  following  points  of  difference  may  be  noted: 
folium  is  slightly  longer  and  more  robust  than  hyla.  its  W/L  ratio 
14%  as  opposed  to  12%;  the  nretaterga  in  folium  are  reddish- 
brown  with  a series  of  middorsal  red  spots  and  the  legs  are  uni- 
formly yellowish;  although  Brolemann  did  not  allude  to  tergal 
setation  generally,  he  stated  that  the  collum  has  three  transverse 
series  of  hairs  and  generally  the  arrangement  of  the  collum  per- 
sists on  the  metaterga  as  well.  In  folium  the  paranota  are  laterally 
dentate  (nearly  smooth  in  hyla)-,  the  femur  of  the  7th  pair  of  legs 
lacks  the  prominent  basal  lobe  found  in  hyla;  and  the  gonopod 
telopodite  is  provided  on  its  dorsolateral  surface  with  three  tri- 
angular projections  not  present  in  hyla.  There  is  no  doubt  what- 
ever that  they  are  quite  different,  despite  some  points  of  similar- 
ity such  as  lobation  of  the  anterior  sterna  and  general  gonopod 
pattern . 

Loomis  (1972:192)  suggested  that  perhaps  T.  evidens  (Cham- 
berlin) from  the  Canal  Zone  is  a junior  synonym  of  folium.  1 have 
been  able  to  study  the  type  material  of  evidens  and  find  it  to  be 
quite  different  from  folium;  among  other  things  evidens  com- 
pletely lacks  processes  on  the  anterior  sterna  and  it  is  moreover 
the  least  setose  of  known  Trichomorpha  species.  I was  unable  to 
locate  either  setae  or  setal  sockets  on  any  of  the  terga. 

The  present  opportunity  is  taken  to  implement  a long-standing 
intention,  to  formally  recognize  a suprageneric  taxon  to  include 
Trichomorpha  and  related  genera  within  the  subfamily  Chelo- 
desminae: 

Trichomorphini  new  tribe 

DIAGNOSIS:  Small  (9-24  mm)  chelodesmoids  in  which  the 
gonosternum  is  reduced  or  lost;  gonopod  aperture  transversely 
narrow  with  flared  edges;  gonopod  coxae  with  prominent  dorsal 
apophyses;  femoral  region  of  gonopod  very  short  and  merged 
with  end  of  prefemur,  solenomerite  appearing  to  originate  from 
prefemur;  without  prefemoral  process;  solonomerite  long  and 
slender,  usually  partly  or  entirely  enveloped  within  the  post- 
femoral  region,  latter  straight  or  strongly  curved  dorsad. 

Body  parallel-sided,  none  of  anterior  segments  broadened  or 
narrowed,  relatively  slender;  segments  not  deeply  telescoped  into 


each  other.  Antennae  long  and  slender,  with  sensory  fields  on 
outer  side  of  articles  5-7.  Mandibles  relatively  large.  Collum 
hemispherical  and  convex.  Paranota  of  moderate  size  and  usually 
set  high  on  sides;  at  least  some  metaterga  with  transverse  sulcus 
(usually  segments  5-  17),  and  most  species  with  at  least  two  or 
three  transverse  rows  of  setae;  pore  formula  normal,  pores  open- 
ing dorsolaterad  in  elongated  peritremata,  latter  continuous  with 
edge  of  paranota.  Epiproct  usually  with  enlarged  lateral  and  sub- 
terminal tubercules.  Sterna  relatively  broad  and  flat,  at  most  pro- 
duced into  low  subcoxal  cones.  Anterior  legs  of  males  usually 
with  tibial  pads  subtending  tarsi,  often  coxae  and  prefemora  vari- 
ously lobed  or  otherwise  modified. 

COMPONENTS:  Trichomorpha  Silvestri  1897;  Ancholepto- 
desmus  Brolemann  1919;  Belonodesmus  Chamberlin  1918; 
Allarithmus  Attems  1933;  Phylactophallus  Pocock  1909;  Tala- 
mancia  Loomis  1974;  Loomisiola  new  genus. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Northern  Cordilleran  region,  from  Ecuador 
to  Costa  Rica,  east  as  far  as  Trinidad. 

REMARKS:  All  of  the  generic  names  listed  above  are  subject 
to  major  change  when  sufficient  material  is  at  hand  for  a revision 
of  the  group.  Some  may  prove  to  be  junior  synonyms  and  Tri- 
chomorpha itself  may  be  divided  into  two  or  more  smaller  gen- 
era. Loomis  (1964,  1972)  reduced  the  Chamberlinian  names 
Typophallus,  Desmachrides.  and  Ethophallus  to  the  synonymy  of 
Trichomorpha.  and  it  seems  quite  possible,  on  the  basis  of  pub- 
lished information,  that  Ancholeptodesmus  and  Allarithmus  may 
suffer  a similar  fate. 

I know  the  genus  Phylactophallus  only  from  Pocock's  original 
description,  but  it  seems  to  be  based  on  a trichomorphine  species, 
and  to  be  a distinct  genus.  I think  it  is  very  likely  that  Isidrona 
forficula  Attems  ( 1933)  is  a generic  and  probably  also  a specific 
synonym  of  P stenomerus  Pocock.  In  the  “Checklist”  of  Cen- 
tral America  millipeds,  Loomis  (1968:15) — on  the  basis  of  a 
suggestion  made  by  me  in  I in.  many  years  ago — combined  the 
names  Phylactophallus  and  Allarithmus.  I now  suspect  that  my 
opinion  was  based  upon  a confusion  of  two  names  (Allarithmus 
instead  of  Isidrona).  in  any  case  it  was  egregiously  incorrect. 

Most  of  the  species  referred  to  Trichomorpha  and  its  satellite 
genera  have  the  gonopods  formed  on  a basically  similar  pattern. 
One  Costa  Rican  species,  however,  is  so  divergent  that  some 
kind  of  recognition  in  a separate  status  seems  desirable. 

Loomisiola  new  genus 

Type  species.  — Trichomorpha  crinitapes  Loomis  1972. 

DIAGNOSIS:  A trichomorphine  genus  differing  peripherally 
from  Trichomorpha  in  having  shorter  and  stouter  antennae,  and 
paranota  with  less  prominently  produced  posterior  corners.  The 
gonopod  prefemur  is  unusually  long,  distally  broadened,  and 
provided  apical  I y on  the  lateral  side  with  an  oblique  lobe  set  with 
numerous  long  slender  setae;  postfemoral  elements  of  gonopod 
strongly  reduced. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Loomisiola  crinitapes  is  known  so  far  only 
from  the  original  type  material,  taken  at  Cairo,  Province  Linton, 
Costa  Rica. 

ETYMOLOGY:  It  is  appropriate  that  this  taxon  commemorate 
the  name  of  H.  F.  Loomis,  who  has  contributed  most  to  our 
knowledge  of  Central  American  and  Antillean  Diplopoda,  in 
numerous  papers  spanning  four  decades. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mas.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  305:1-7 


Figures  1-8.  Trichomorpha  hyla,  structural  details,  from  holotype.  Figure  1,  left  paranota  of  segments  8 and  9,  dorsal  aspect.  Figure  2,  left  paranota  of 
segments  13  and  14,  dorsal  aspect.  Figure  3,  posterior  end  of  body,  dorsal  aspect.  Figure  4,  sternum  and  bases  of  right  legs  of  segment  5,  aboral  aspect. 
Figure  5,  sternum  and  right  legs  of  segment  6,  aboral  aspect  (setation  omitted  from  anterior  leg).  Figure  6,  coxa  and  base  of  telopodite  of  right  gonopod, 
dorsal  aspect.  Figure  7,  left  gonopod,  lateral  aspect  (c,  cingulum).  Figure  8,  left  gonopod  mesal  aspect.  Figures  1-5  drawn  X45,  6-8  X 90. 

Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Counts . 1979.  305:1-7. 


Hoffman:  Isla  del  Coco  Milliped 


7 


RESUMEN 

Se  describe  una  especie  de  la  familia  Chelodesmidae,  Tricho- 
morpha  hyla,  que  se  encuentra  en  la  Isla  del  Coco  de  Costa  Rica. 
Se  diferencia  de  T.  folium  (Brolemann  1903)  de  esa  misma  isla 
en  la  setacion  dorsal  reducida,  en  la  ausencia  de  dentacion  de  los 
paranota,  y en  una  estructura  gonopoda  menos  compleja.  Le 
nueva  tribu  Trichomorphini  se  propone  para  acomodar  los 
generos  Trichomorpha,  Phylactophallus,  Ancholeptodesmus, 
Belonodesmus , Allarithmus,  Talamancia,  y el  nuevo  genero 
Loomisiola,  basado  en  Trichomorpha  crinitapes  Loomis  1972,  de 
Costa  Rica. 

LITERATURE  CITED 

Attems,  C.  1933.  Neue  Polydesmiden  von  Costa-Rica.  Ann. 
Naturh.  Mus.  Wien  46:257-269,  figs.  1-20. 

. 1938.  Fam.  Leptodesmidae,  Platyrhacidae,  Oxydes- 

midae,  Gomphodesmidae,  in:  Das  Tierreich  69:1-487, 
figs.  1-509. 

Brolemann,  H.W.  1903.  Myriapodes  recueillis  a 1 ’Isla  de  Cocos 
par  M.  le  Professeur  P.  Biolley.  Ann.  soc.  Ent.  France 
72:128-  142,  text  figs.  1-10,  pi.  I,  figs.  1-18. 


. 1919.  Myriapodes,  in:  Miss.  Arc  Merid.  equat. 

Amer.  Sud  10  (2):235—  275 , figs.  1-42. 

Carl,  J.  1914.  Die  Diplopoden  von  Colombien  nebst  Beitragen 
zur  Morphologie  der  Stemmatoiuliden.  Mem.  soc.  Neu- 
chatel.  sci.  natur.  5:821-993,  figs.  1-262. 

Chamberlin,  R.V.  1918.  The  Chilopoda  and  Diplopoda  of  the 
West  Indies.  Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.  62:151-262. 

. 1940.  On  a collection  of  centipeds  and  millipeds 

from  Barro  Colorado  Island,  Panama.  Bull.  Univ.  Utah, 
biol.  ser.,  5(6):3  — 16. 

Loomis,  H.F.  1964.  The  Millipeds  of  Panama.  Fieldiana:  Zool. 
47(1):1-136,  figs.  1-13. 

. 1968.  A Checklist  of  the  Millipeds  of  Mexico  and 

Central  America.  Bull.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus.  266:1-  137. 

. 1972.  Millipeds  from  the  Atlantic  Lowlands  of  Costa 

Rica.  Florida  Entom.  55:185-206,  figs.  1-42. 

. 1974.  Millipeds  from  the  southern  Costa  Rican  high- 
lands. Florida  Entom.  57:169-187,  figs.  1-29. 

POCOCK,  R.I.  1903- 1910.  Chilopoda  and  Diplopoda,  in:  Biologia 
Centrali- Americana,  pp.  1-217,  pis.  1-15  [fascicle  con- 
taining Phylactophallus  issued  in  December,  1909]. 

Accepted  for  publication  July  8,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  305:1-7. 


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Number  306 
March  16,  1979 


ONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


SYSTEMATICS  OF  THE  SPECIES  OF  CRY PTORHOP ALUM 
(COLEOPTERA:  DERMESTIDAE)  OCCURRING  IN  CALIFORNIA 


By  R.S.  Beal,  Jr. 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Systematics  3 

Abbreviations  4 

Generic  Nomenclature  and  Description 

Cryptorhopalum  Guerin- Meneville  4 

Key  to  Adults  from  California  6 

Descriptions  and  Discussions  of  California  Species 

Cryptorhopalum  triste  LeConte  7 

Cryptorhopalum  rubidum  new  species  10 

Cryptorhopalum  uteanum  Casey  12 

Cryptorhopalum  apicale  (Mannerheim)  15 

Cryptorhopalum  fusculum  LeConte  17 

Cryptorhopalum  filitarse  Casey  18 

Cryptorhopalum  balteatum  LeConte  19 

Cryptorhopalum  haplotes  new  species  20 

Synonymies  and  Lectotype  Designations 

for  C.  reversum  and  C.  pruddeni  20 

Acknowledgments  21 

Literature  Cited  21 


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Suggested  Citation;  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


3 


SYSTEMATICS  OF  THE  SPECIES  OF  CRYPTORHOPALUM 
(COLEOPTERA:  DERMESTIDAE)  OCCURRING  IN  CALIFORNIA1 

By  R.S.  Beal,  Jr.2 


ABSTRACT:  The  following  described  species  are  recognized  as  occurring  in  California:  C.  triste  LeConte  ( = 
C.  modestum  Casey,  C . fusciclave  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS),  C.  uteanum  Casey  (=  C.  nephianum  Casey, 
C.  aridum  Casey,  C.  bakeri  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS),  C.  upicale  (Mannerheim)  (=  C.  coloradense  Casey, 
C.  tuckeri  Casey,  C.fontinale  Casey,  C.  grisescens  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS),  C.  fusculum  LeConte  (=  C. 
anthrax  Casey,  C.  granum  Casey,  C.  pumilum  Casey,  C.  piceum  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS,  and  C.  affine 
Casey,  REVISED  SYNONYMY),  C.  filitarse  Casey,  and  C.  balteatum  LeConte.  Two  new  species  are 
described:  C.  rubidurn,  for  which  Yuma,  Arizona,  is  the  type  locality,  and  C.  haplotes,  known  only  from 
Jacumba,  California.  The  species  can  best  be  distinguished  by  characters  found  associated  with  the  aedeagus 
and  lateral  lobes  and  with  the  eighth  morphological  abdominal  sternum  of  the  males.  Redescriptions  of  existing 
species  are  provided  together  with  lectotype  designations  wherever  necessary.  A key  to  the  species  is  provided 
for  forms  of  adults  occurring  in  California.  Flower  hosts,  geographic  distribution,  and  synonymies  are  given  for 
each  species  insofar  as  known.  In  addition  to  the  species  above,  synonymies  are  given  and  lectotypes 
designated  for  two  species  closely  related  to  C.  balteatum  but  occurring  outside  California:  C.  reversum  Casey 
(=  C.  festivum  Casey,  C.  balteatum  Casey  [non  balteatum  LeConte],  C.  pallens  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS), 
and  C.  pruddeni  Casey  (=  C.  insigne  Casey,  C.  anthrenoides  Casey,  NEW  SYNONYMS). 


Adults  of  the  genus  Cryptorhopalum  are  small,  ovate  beetles, 
almost  always  taken  on  flowers,  and  readily  recognized  as  der- 
mestids  by  the  presence  of  a median  ocellus  and  a hind  coxa 
grooved  for  the  reception  of  the  femur.  The  two-segmented 
antennal  club,  which  fits  closely  into  a fossa  on  the  underside  of 
the  prothorax,  and  the  covering  of  hairs  rather  than  of  scales  eas- 
ily separates  them  from  all  other  Nearctic  dermestids. 

Relatively  large  numbers  of  specimens  of  the  genus  are  found 
in  the  collections  of  most  insect  museums.  Nevertheless,  no  revi- 
sion of  the  genus  has  been  undertaken  since  that  of  Thomas  L. 
Casey  in  1900.  Because  Casey  worked  from  very  small  numbers 
of  specimens  and  described  his  species  from  a typological  rather 
than  a population  concept,  his  “species”  in  many  instances  are 
simple  variants  of  previously  described  species  or  of  another  of 
his  species.  Consequently  his  key  to  the  species  is  of  little  value. 
There  is  a clear  need  to  investigate  the  species  from  a population 
concept,  to  develop  a workable  key  for  distinguishing  them,  and 
to  provide  accurate  descriptions  for  them.  This  paper  is  an  effort 
to  accomplish  these  goals  for  those  species  presently  known  to 
occur  in  California. 

Other  than  records  of  flowers  on  which  the  adults  are  found, 
very  Little  is  known  of  the  biology  of  species  of  Cryptorhopalum. 
Larvae  of  some  unidentified  species  have  been  intercepted  at 
border  inspection  stations  on  cheese  and  other  food  products  from 
Mexico.  Nevertheless,  no  Nearctic  species  has  ever  been  known 
to  occur  as  a pest  of  stored  food  products.  Larvae  of  a very  rare 
Arizona  species,  C.  poorei,  have  been  found  associated  with 


spider  nests  under  the  bark  of  dead  ponderosa  pine  trees  (Beal 
1975),  yet  an  association  with  spider  nests  does  not  seem  to  be  a 
likely  natural  habitat  for  larvae  of  most  of  the  species,  judging 
from  their  numbers  and  the  situations  in  which  adults  are  often 
found.  Hopefully,  the  present  study  will  stimulate  further  investi- 
gations into  the  biologies  of  the  species. 

SYSTEMATICS 

Species  Characters 

Adults  of  some  species  are  readily  distinguished  by  patterns 
formed  on  the  elytra  by  light  and  dark  colored  setae  or  by  the 
shapes  of  the  antennal  club.  The  form  of  the  anterior  tibia  is 
diagnostic  for  a few  species,  as  is  the  density  of  punctation  on  the 
pronotum.  Some  species,  however,  are  virtually  indistinguishable 
from  each  other  on  the  basis  of  external  characters.  Nevertheless, 
apparently  reliable  characters  for  the  recognition  of  all  California 
species  and  for  many  other  Nearctic  species  are  found  in  struc- 


‘Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Charles  L.  Hogue 
John  M.  Kingsolver 
Floyd  G.  Werner 

2Northern  Arizona  University,  Flagstaff,  Arizona,  86011. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


4 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


tures  associated  with  the  male  genital  apparatus. 

The  male  genital  tube  is  formed  by  the  terga  and  the  sterna  of 
the  8th  and  9th  morphological  abdominal  segments,  the  weakly 
sclerotized  tegmen  (or  basal  piece)  that  lies  beneath  the  base  of 
the  aedeagus,  and  the  lateral  lobes  and  aedeagus.  Except  in  copu- 
lation, these  parts  are  telescoped  together  within  the  abdomen. 
Discriminating  characters  are  found  in  the  shape  of  the  aedeagus, 
in  the  shape  of  the  lateral  lobes  and  the  “bridge”  that  connects 
the  two  lobes,  and  most  particularly  in  the  shape  of  the  apical 
margin  of  the  sternum  of  abdominal  segment  8 and  the  form  of 
the  setae  that  are  inserted  on  it. 

Species  Identification 

Any  effort  to  identify  species  on  the  basis  of  external  charac- 
ters alone  is  complicated  by  two  problems.  One  is  the  relative 
paucity  of  such  characters.  The  other  is  the  relatively  large 
degree  of  geographic  variation  that  occurs  over  the  range  of  some 
of  the  species.  It  is  usually  fairly  easy  to  separate  members  of 
any  two  species  occurring  within  a limited  geographic  area.  Yet 
convergence  of  external  characters  may  make  quite  difficult  sep- 
aration of  specimens  of  one  species  from  those  of  another  from  a 
distance  of  only  a few  hundred  miles.  In  the  key  that  follows,  an 
effort  is  made  to  distinguish  only  those  forms  of  each  species  that 
are  found  in  California.  However,  the  formal  description  for  each 
is  given  for  all  variations  within  its  entire  range,  as  far  as  known. 

Species  Groups 

Based  on  the  total  number  of  known  adult  characters,  the 
Nearctic  species  fall  into  three  rather  distinct  groups.  The  Cali- 
fornia representatives  of  these  groups  are  the  following. 

TRISTE  group 
C.  triste  LeConte 
C.  rubidum,  new  species 
C.  uteanum  Casey 
C.  apicale  (Mannerheim) 

C.  fusculum  LeConte 
QUADRIPUNCTATUM  group 
C.  filitarse  Casey 
C.  balteatum  LeConte 
HAPLOTES  group 
C.  haplotes,  new  species 

The  quadripunctatum  group  is  characterized  by  the  presence  of 
an  appendage-like  structure  on  each  lateral  posterior  angle  of  the 
8th  (morphological)  abdominal  sternum  of  the  male  (Figs.  14, 
15).  Externally  it  is  characterized  by  the  presence  of  three  bands 
of  light-colored  pubescence  on  the  elytron,  a feature  not  found  in 
members  of  either  the  triste  or  haplotes  groups.  As  far  as  the 
California  species  are  concerned,  the  quadripunctatum  group  is 
further  separable  by  the  ovate  outline  of  the  male  antennal  club. 
In  distinction  to  this,  members  of  the  haplotes  and  triste  groups 
have  a subcylindrical  antennal  club  in  the  males. 

In  members  of  the  triste  group  the  8th  (morphological)  abdom- 
inal sternum  of  the  male  lacks  lateral  appendage-like  structures  or 
sublateral  marginal  papillae  but  has  a posterior  median  process  at 
the  apex  of  which  are  various  specialized  setae.  The  one  excep- 
tion is  C.  rubidum,  which  has  a median  cluster  of  setae  but  no 
process.  The  dorsal  setae  in  members  of  this  group  are  commonly 
unicolorous,  but  if  bicolorous  they  do  not  form  three  more  or  less 


distinct  bands  on  the  elytron.  (C.  apicale  usually  has  bicolorous 
setae  and  these  often  form  an  oblique  subbasai  band  and  a sub- 
apical  spot,  but  there  is  no  submedian  band.) 

The  haplotes  group,  for  which  there  is  but  a single  Nearctic 
representative,  is  distinguished  from  both  of  the  preceding  groups 
by  its  more  elongate  form  (Fig.  1).  The  8th  (morphological) 
sternum  of  the  male  lacks  a median  apical  process  and  lateral 
appendage-like  structures,  but  possesses  sublateral  papillae  on 
which  are  inserted  several  moderately  long  setae  (Fig.  12).  The 
margin  of  the  sternum  has  a cluster  of  setae  inserted  at  the  mid- 
line. The  dorsal  setae  are  unicolorous,  at  least  in  this  and  the  one 
Mexican  species  I have  studied. 

C.  rubidum  is  the  least  specialized  of  all  the  species  consid- 
ered, at  least  as  far  as  the  male  genital  structures  are  concerned. 
Conceivably  it  could  be  placed  in  a separate  group  or  attached  to 
any  of  the  three  groups  as  its  most  primitive  member.  However, 
here  it  is  placed  in  the  triste  group  because  of  its  very  close 
similarity  in  external  characters  to  C.  uteanum. 

ABBREVIATIONS 

In  the  discussion  of  species  below,  museums  frequently 
referred  to  are  abbreviated  as  follows:  CAS  — California  Acad- 
emy of  Sciences,  San  Francisco;  MCZ  — Museum  of  Compara- 
tive Zoology,  Cambridge,  Massachusetts;  LACM — Natural  His- 
tory Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  California;  NMNH  — 
United  States  National  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Washington, 
D.C. 

GENERIC  NOMENCLATURE  AND 
DESCRIPTION 

Cryptorhopalum  Guerin-Meneville 

Cryptorhopalum  Guerin-Meneville  1834  (1838),  p.  67.  LeConte  1854, 
pp.  106-107.  Reitter  1880  (1881),  p.  43.  Jayne  1882,  p.  364. 
Casey  1900,  pp.  145,  155.  Sharp  1902,  p.  652.  Rees  1943,  p.  11. 
Beal  1959,  p.  101  (in  key  to  genera).  Beal  1975,  pp.  228-233 
(larval  description). 

Cryptorrhopalum  Arrow  1915,  pp.  437,  442. 

Type  of  the  genus:  Cryptorhopalum  quadripunctatum  Guerin-Meneville 
1838. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Body  ovate,  moderately  convex,  covered  on 
dorsal  surfaces  with  moderately  short,  subrecumbent  hairs;  scales 
absent  although  some  setae  may  be  slightly  ensiform.  Head 
slightly  inflexed  with  front  inclined  10  to  30  degrees  from  the 
vertical;  median  ocellus  present.  Antenna  1 1 -segmented;  club 
2- segmented,  ovate  or  subcylindrical;  segment  10  subequal  in 
length  to  segment  11  or  longer  than  segment  11.  Pronotum 
carinate  on  lateral  margins  but  without  sublateral  carinae  or 
impunctate  areas;  basal  lobe  not  raised  (on  same  plane  as  poste- 
rior margins),  projecting  posteriad  moderately  to  strongly.  Scutel- 
lum  visible.  Elytra  across  humeri  slightly  wider  than  width  of 
pronotum  at  base;  epipleuron  inflexed  with  surface  in  approxi- 
mately same  plane  as  metepistemum.  Prosternum  with  anterior 
margin  very  weakly  or  not  at  all  deflexed,  arcuately  rounding  to 
sides  with  area  in  front  of  lateral  margin  of  procoxa  somewhat 
longer  than  area  in  front  of  middle  of  procoxa;  process  moder- 
ately broad,  received  in  mesosternal  sulcus,  and  attaining  meso- 
sternum.  Hypomeron  with  fossa  closely  conforming  to  size  and 
shape  of  antennal  club;  fossa  occupying  most  of  hypomeron  and 
margined  behind  by  thread-like  carina;  posterior  margin  of 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Crypt orhopalum 


5 


Figures  1-7.  Figure  1:  Dorsal  aspect  of  C.  haplotes.  Figure  2:  Dorsal  aspect  of  C.  apicale.  Figure  3:  Underside  of  prothorax  showing  antennal  club  in 
place  within  antennal  fossa  of  male  of  C . haplotes.  Figure  4:  Same  of  male  of  C.  balteatum.  Figure  5:  Same  of  female  of  C.  haplotes  (hyp  = hypomeron). 
Figure  6:  Same  of  male  of  C.  rubidum.  Figure  7:  Same  of  male  of  C.  fusculum. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mas.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


6 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


KEY  TO  ADULTS  FROM  CALIFORNIA 

1.  Subbasal,  subapical,  and  apical  bands  and  sometimes  basal  band  of  light-colored  pubescence  present  on  elytron;  basal  and  subbasal 

bands  sometimes  coalesce.  Basal  half  of  1st  visible  abdominal  sternum  with  2 oblique  striae  extending  from  beneath  each  trochanter 
(leg  may  need  to  be  relaxed  and  moved  to  observe  character).  Male  antennal  club  ovate  (Fig.  4).  Female  with  2 circular  foveae  on 
disc  of  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum  (Fig.  33)  2 

— Elytral  pubescence  unicolorous,  or  with  subapical  spot  of  light-colored  pubescence  with  or  without  subbasal  band  of  light-colored 

pubescence,  or  covered  with  light-colored  pubescence  with  few  to  many  intermingled  dark  hairs,  particularly  at  apical  third.  Basal 
half  of  1st  visible  abdominal  sternum  with  1 oblique  stria  extending  from  beneath  each  trochanter.  Male  antennal  club  more  or  less 
elongate,  subcylindrical  (Figs.  3,  5-7).  Female  without  2 circular  foveae  on  disc  of  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum  3 

2.  Light-colored  pubescence  of  elytron  a deep  gold  color  (orichalceous).  Integument  of  pronotum  generally  appreciably  darker  in  color 

than  elytron  at  base.  Sternum  of  8th  (morphological)  abdominal  segment  without  cluster  of  setae  at  middle  of  apical  margin;  lateral 
process  with  stout,  curved  seta  at  apex  (Fig.  15)  balteatum 

— Light-colored  pubescence  of  elytron  white  with  slight  golden  cast.  Integument  of  pronotum  and  base  of  elytron  usually  identically 

colored.  Sternum  of  8th  (morphological)  abdominal  segment  with  cluster  of  setae  at  middle  of  apical  margin;  lateral  process  with 
slender  seta  at  apex  (Fig.  14)  filitarse 

3.  Form  elongate:  ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  1:1.85  or  longer  (Fig.  1)  haplotes 

— Form  more  ovate:  ratio  of  width  to  length  1:1.80  or  shorter  (Fig.  2)  4 

4.  Pubescence  of  elytron  consisting  of  piceous  to  black  hairs  with  subapical  patch  of  light  golden  or  whitish  pubescence  (rarely  limited 

to  as  few  as  3 or  4 light-colored  hairs)  with  or  without  subbasal  band  of  golden  or  whitish  pubescence,  or  (form  limited  to  southern 
deserts)  elytron  completely  covered  with  whitish  pubescence  except  for  few  scattered  blackish  hairs,  mostly  at  apical  VS.  Both 
segments  of  antennal  club  identically  colored  (ochreous  to  reddish)  apicale 

— Pubescence  of  elytron  uniformly  light  golden  or  piceous  but  not  whitish  and  without  subbasal  band  or  subapical  patch  of 

light-colored  hairs.  Segments  of  antennal  club  variously  colored  5 

5.  Protibia  expanded  at  apex  (Fig.  29).  Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  about  1 VS  times  diameter  of  facet  of  eye  and  separated  by  VS  to 

2 times  diameter  of  single  puncture.  Male  antennal  club  dark  reddish  brown  to  black triste 

— Protibia  gradually  narrowing  from  middle  to  apex  (as  in  Fig.  30).  Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  no  wider  than  diameter  of  facet  of 

eye  and  separated  by  3 or  more  times  diameter  of  single  puncture,  or,  if  not  separated  by  more  than  twice  diameter  of  puncture,  then 
proximal  segment  of  male  antennal  club  light  yellowish  brown  to  ochreous.  Male  antennal  club  light  or  dark  6 

6.  Male  with  hypomeron  continued  behind  antennal  fossa;  hypomeron  about  as  wide  at  narrowest  point  behind  fossa  as  width  of 

segment  3 of  antenna.  Male  and  female  antennal  clubs  with  segment  10  light  yellowish  brown  or  light  ochreous  and  segment  11 

usually  somewhat  darker,  particularly  on  anterior  side  and  at  apex . Pronotum  and  elytra  usually  dark  mahogany  brown  to  black  with 
pronotum  same  color  as  elytra  (lighter  colored  specimens  probably  teneral)  fusculum 

— Male  with  hypomeron  behind  lateral  VS  of  antennal  fossa  obliterated  or  narrowed  to  no  more  than  half  width  of  segment  3 of  antenna 

(not  including  width  of  carina  bounding  fossa).  Segments  of  antennal  club  in  males  and  females  concolorous  or  segment  11  darker 
than  segment  10,  but  when  segment  11  darker,  then  segment  10  rufous  rather  than  light  yellowish  brown  or  ochreous.  Head  and 
pronotum  usually  black  to  dark  mahogany  with  elytra  rufous;  elytra  frequently  dark  mahogany  at  base  and  along  basal  half  of  median 
suture  and  rufous  apically  and  along  sides  7 

7.  (Species  indistinguishable  by  external  morphological  characters.)  8th  (morphological)  sternum  more  or  less  evenly  rounded  apically 

with  cluster  of  simple  setae  at  middle  and  without  extended  median  process  bearing  two  recurved  setae  (Fig.  9);  aedeagus  without 
proximally  directed  hook  at  genital  pore  (Fig.  22).  Western  California  deserts  from  Inyo  Mts.  to  Yuma  rubidum 

— 8th  (morphological)  sternum  with  distal  process  bearing  tight  cluster  of  acutely  pointed  setae  and  two,  long,  recurved  setae  at  apex 

(Fig.  13,  17);  aedeagus  with  proximally  directed  hook  at  opening  of  genital  pore  (Fig.  24).  Western  Texas  to  SW  Wyoming  across 
Utah  and  Nevada  to  California;  in  California  in  coastal  range  and  along  coast  uteanum 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


7 


hypomeron  sharply  angled  with  or  without  feeble,  thread-like 
carina.  Mesostemal  disc  completely  divided  by  deep  and  broad 
sulcus  for  reception  of  prostemal  process.  Metastemal  episternum 
less  than  lA  as  wide  as  metasternum.  Metastemal  epimeron 
broadly  joined  to  lateral  margin  of  metastemal  coxa.  Legs  with 
tibia  spinose  on  dorsal  margin  but  without  teeth;  tarsus  of  hind 
leg  with  first  segment  subequal  in  length  to  or  slightly  longer 
than  second  segment. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  antennal  club  about  half 
size  of  male  club;  antennal  fossa  correspondingly  smaller. 

DISCUSSION:  Members  of  the  genus  are  characteristically 
dermestid-like,  having  a distinct  median  ocellus,  the  hind  coxa 
grooved  for  the  reception  of  the  femur,  and  the  head  hypogna- 
thous  and  partially  recessed  within  the  pronotum.  They  somewhat 
resemble  members  of  the  genus  Anthrenus  in  size  and  shape,  but 
are  covered  with  hairs  rather  than  scales.  The  most  distinctive 
character  is  the  2-segmented  antennal  club,  in  which  the  seg- 
ments are  subequal  or  segment  10  is  longer  than  segment  11. 
Members  of  Orphinus  Motschulsky,  which  in  the  United  States 
occur  only  in  Florida  and  Hawaii,  have  a 2-segmented  club,  but 
segment  1 1 is  greatly  enlarged  and  nearly  round  with  segment  10 
at  most  only  a third  as  long. 

The  genus  most  nearly  related  to  Cryptorhopalum  seems  to  be 
Hemirhopalum  Sharp,  a Neotropical  genus.  According  to  Sharp 
(1902)  members  of  Hemirhopalum  lack  a median  ocellus,  have 
“a  large,  but  ordinary,  laxly-jointed”  male  antennal  club,  and 
have  “the  sides  of  the  thorax  beneath”  with  “a  large  impression 
which  is  shallow  behind  instead  of  a depression  that  exactly  fits 
the  club  of  the  antennae:  this  impression  in  front  is  broadly 
open.”  I have  not  seen  any  specimens  with  the  particular  charac- 
ters that  Sharp  seems  to  have  described.  I have  seen  unidentified 
Neotropical  species  that  belong  to  the  same  species  group  as  C. 
haplotes.  I suspect  that  some  of  the  species  now  placed  in  Hemi- 
rhopalum properly  belong  in  the  haplotes  group  within  Crypto- 
rhopalum. Obviously  there  is  a definite  need  for  a revisionary 
study  of  the  Neotropical  members  of  both  genera. 

Aside  from  Hemirhopalum,  species  of  Cryptorhopalum  appear 
to  have  the  closest  affinities  with  Orphinus  and  Thaumaglossa 
Redtenbacher.  This  judgment  is  based  on  larval  as  well  as  adult 
characters.  Significantly,  the  larvae  of  all  3 genera  have  a cluster 
of  hastisetae  inserted  on  the  membrane  behind  each  side  of  the 
tergum  of  abdominal  segment  7,  but  not  behind  any  other  seg- 
ment. The  endemic  Hawaiian  genus  Lahrocerus  also  has  larvae 
that  are  quite  similar  to  those  of  Cryptorhopalum  (Beal  1975), 
although  the  elongated  form  and  the  many-segmented  antennal 
club  of  the  adults  make  them  appear  more  closely  related  to 
Megatoma  or  Trogoderma.  Cryptorhopalum,  Orphinus,  Thau- 
maglossa, and  Labrocerus  most  likely  share  a more  recent 
common  ancestry  than  any  one  of  these  genera  does  with  any 
other  genus  of  Dermestidae  for  which  larval  characters  are 
known. 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  The  genus  is  primarily  Neo- 
tropical with  120  species  currently  recognized  from  South  and 
Central  America.  Probably  a total  of  18  species  occur  within  the 
United  States,  including  3 as  yet  undescribed  from  states  other 
than  California.  The  genus  is  found  across  the  entire  country  with 
the  exception  of  the  northern  New  England  States.  The  greatest 
proliferation  of  Nearctic  species  is  in  the  southwest. 


DESCRIPTIONS  AND  DISCUSSION  OF 
CALIFORNIA  SPECIES 
Cryptorhopalum  triste  LeConte 

Cryptorhopalum  triste  LeConte,  1854,  p.  111.  Reitter,  1880  (1881),  p. 
44.  Jayne  1882,  p.  367.  Casey,  1900,  p.  158.  Blatchley,  1910, 
p.  594.  Casey,  1916,  p.  191.  Hatch,  1962,  p.  290. 

Cryptorhopalum  nigricorne  LeConte,  1861,  p.  344. 

Cryptorhopalum  picicorne  LeConte,  1854,  p.  111.  Casey,  1900,  p.  159. 

Dillon  and  Dillon,  1961,  pp.  375,  376.  Kirk,  1969,  p.  57. 
Cryptorhopalum  modestum  Casey,  1900,  p.  158  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  fusciclave  Casey,  1900,  p.  158  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Dorsal  pubescence  uniformly  piceous  to 
light  golden  brown.  Dorsal  integument  immaculate,  black  to  yel- 
lowish brown.  Antennal  club  subcylindrical. 

Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  about  lVs  times  diameter  of 
facet  of  eye  and  separated  by  V2  to  2 times  diameter  of  single 
puncture.  Antennal  club  light  brown  to  black;  ratio  of  width  to 
length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.2  to  1:1.7;  ratio  of  length 
of  segment  11  to  length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.1  to 
1:1.8.  Carina  on  lateroposterior  margin  of  antennal  fossa  attain- 
ing margin  of  hypomeron  so  that  hypomeron  not  continuous 
behind  fossa  or  carina  not  quite  attaining  margin  of  hypomeron 
so  that  plane  of  hypomeron  continued  very  narrowly  behind 
carina  with  hypomeron  at  narrowest  point  no  wider  than  twice 
width  of  carina  bounding  fossa.  Prosternal  process  without 
median  carina.  Metasternum  with  long  or  short  diagonal  stria 
originating  at  margin  behind  mesocoxa  and  directed  toward 
lateroposterior  angle  of  metastemum.  First  abdominal  sternum 
with  single  oblique  stria  extending  on  each  side  from  anterior 
margin  of  segment  beneath  trochanter  for  about  % length  of  seg- 
ment. Tibia  of  front  leg  slightly  expanded  and  widest  at  apex 
(Fig.  29).  Eighth  (morphological)  sternum  with  apical  margin  as 
illustrated  (Fig.  10);  two  dorsal  setae  of  median  process  inserted 
close  together,  their  sockets  separated  by  less  than  width  of  sin- 
gle socket  and  positioned  distad  to  insertions  of  setae  of  ventral 
brush;  setae  of  ventral  brush  erect,  compact;  each  seta  with 
obtuse  apex  (Fig.  20).  Aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  as  illustrated 
(Fig.  19);  base  of  aedeagus  furcate  with  hinges  widely  separated. 
Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra) 
varying  from  1:1.55  to  1:1.73.  Length  ranging  from  1.92  mm  to 
2.45  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  antennal  fossa  occupy- 
ing about  half  area  of  hypomeron.  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum 
without  foveae.  Length  ranging  from  2.06  mm  to  2.83  mm. 

LECTOTYPE  DESIGNATIONS:  The  lectotype  of  C.  triste  is 
herewith  designated  as  the  second  of  the  two  specimens  standing 
under  the  name  in  the  LeConte  collection  in  the  MCZ.  From  the 
original  description,  in  which  LeConte  indicated  a range  of  size 
for  the  species,  it  is  obvious  that  he  had  more  than  one  specimen 
before  him  when  he  wrote  the  description.  The  first  specimen  in 
the  series,  one  which  bears  a “type”  label  (probably  placed  on  it 
by  Nathan  Banks),  is  not  C.  triste  as  the  species  was  interpreted 
by  Jayne,  Casey,  and  Hatch,  but  is  C.  apicale  Mannerheim.  This 
first  specimen  happens  to  bear  a label  with  the  species  name  on  it 
in  LeConte’s  handwriting,  but  judging  from  the  pin  holes  in  the 
label,  it  has  been  removed  at  least  four  times  and  there  is  no 


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8 


Beal:  California  Crypt orhopalum 


Figures  8-15.  Apical  margin  of  morphological  abdominal  sternum  8 of  males  of  species  of  Cryptorhopalum.  Figure  8 : fusculum.  Figure  9:  rubidum. 
Figure  10:  triste.  Figure  11:  apicale.  Figure  12:  haplotes.  Figure  13:  uteanum.  Figure  14:  filitarse.  Figure  15:  balteatum. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


9 


19 


17 


20 


18 


21 


Figures  16-21.  Figure  16:  Ventral  aspect  of  aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  of  C.  haplotes.  Figure  17:  Detail  of  apical  process  of  abdominal  sternum  8 of  C. 
uteanum.  Figure  18:  Same  of  C.  apicale.  Figure  19:  ventral  aspect  of  aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  of  C.  triste . Figure  20:  Detail  of  apical  process  of 
abdominal  sternum  8 of  C.  triste.  Figure  21:  Ventral  aspect  of  aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  of  C.  balteatum. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


10 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


certainty  that  it  is  now  on  the  specimen  on  which  it  was  orig- 
inally placed  by  LeConte.  Nomenclatural  stability  can  best  be 
assured  by  designating  the  second  specimen  as  the  lectotype.  The 
type  locality  is  San  Jose,  California. 

The  lectotype  of  C.  nigricorne  LeConte  is  herewith  designated 
as  the  specimen  in  the  LeConte  collection  in  the  MCZ  bearing  the 
type  label  No.  6879.  The  type-locality  is  California. 

The  lectotype  of  C.  picicorne  LeConte  is  herewith  designated 
as  the  specimen  in  the  LeConte  collection  in  the  MCZ  bearing  the 
type  label  No.  6878.  The  pink  label  on  the  specimen  is 
LeConte’s  symbol  for  “Middle  States.’’ 

The  lectotype  of  C.  modestum  Casey  is  herewith  designated  as 
the  specimen  in  the  Casey  collection  in  the  NMNH  bearing  the 
type  label  No.  37572.  The  type-locality  is  Brownsville,  Texas. 

The  holotype  of  C.  fusciclave  in  the  Casey  collection  in  the 
NMNH  bears  the  type  label  No.  37573.  The  type-locality  is 
Texas. 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  The  species  is  found  from 
northern  New  York  State  (and  doubtlessly  into  Canada)  to  Flor- 
ida and  west  to  Kansas,  Oklahoma,  and  Texas.  No  specimens 
have  been  found  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  states,  but  it  is  common 
in  the  Pacific  Coast  states  (Fig.  36).  Whether  the  two  populations 
are  continuous  through  Canada  or  (less  likely)  through  Mexico  is 
not  known  at  present.  It  is  possible  that  the  California  population, 
which  appears  quite  homogeneous,  is  an  introduction  by  early 
emigrants.  Collections  of  the  species  have  been  made  in  the  Mex- 
ican states  of  Nuevo  Leon,  Tamaulipas,  Veracruz,  and  Puebla, 
but,  to  the  author’s  knowledge,  not  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Sierra  Madre  Occidental. 

DISCUSSION:  This  species  can  be  recognized  with  moderate 
ease,  being  distinguished  by  the  slightly  expanded  apex  of  the 
front  tibia  and  the  relatively  dense  punctation  of  the  pronotum. 
Some  specimens  of  C.  apicale  have  pronotal  punctation  almost  as 
dense  as  that  found  in  C . triste.  However,  wherever  these  two 
species  are  known  to  occur  sympatrically,  that  form  of  C.  apicale 
is  found  in  which  most  of  the  elytron  is  covered  with  dark  pubes- 
cence with  an  area  of  light  colored  pubescence  present  near  the 
apex  of  each  elytron.  The  dorsal  pubescence  of  C.  triste  is 
always  unicolorous.  The  two  species  are  also  distinguished  in 
California  by  the  light  ochreous  to  rufous  color  of  the  antennal 
club  in  C.  apicale  and  the  dark  reddish  brown  to  black  color  of 
the  antennal  club  in  C.  triste.  The  longer,  narrower  shape  of  the 
male  antennal  club  and  the  much  narrower  rim  of  the  hypomeron 
behind  the  antennal  fossa  in  the  male  of  C.  triste  will  further 
serve  to  distinguish  the  species.  C.  triste  is  more  difficult  to  dis- 
tinguish from  dark  forms  of  C.  uteanum  and  from  C.  fusculum, 
but  the  denser  pronotal  punctation  and  the  expanded  apex  of  the 
front  tibia  should  make  its  separation  positive. 

INFRASPECIFIC  VARIATIONS:  Specimens  from  New  Jer- 
sey and  Maryland  are  generally  narrower  than  specimens  from 
California,  but  the  ranges  of  ratios  of  width  to  length  slightly 
overlap.  On  the  other  hand,  specimens  from  Kansas,  Oklahoma, 
and  Arkansas  have  a range  of  ratios  of  width  to  length  broadly 
overlapping  both  those  of  the  East  Coast  and  the  West  Coast.  The 
light  reddish  brown  color  of  the  dorsal  pubescence  and  the 
piceous  to  black  color  of  the  antennal  club  characterize  speci- 
mens from  both  the  East  Coast,  the  West  Coast  and  the  Middle 
Plains  states.  Specimens  from  Florida  and  along  the  Rio  Grande 
River  in  Texas  have  a somewhat  lighter  dorsal  pubescence  and  a 
light  brown  to  reddish  brown  antennal  club.  Not  enough  speci- 
mens have  been  available  from  Mexico  to  warrant  conclusions 


about  variations  in  populations  there.  However,  a series  of  ten 
specimens  from  the  State  of  Puebla  in  Central  Mexico  is  scarcely 
distinguishable  from  specimens  from  the  Central  Atlantic  United 
States. 

ECOLOGY:  Adults  are  collected  on  a wide  variety  of  flowers. 
The  most  extensive  records  of  their  occurrences  on  flowers  have 
been  made  by  A.R.  Moldenke  (P.H.  Raven,  in  litt.)  for  collec- 
tions from  San  Mateo  County,  California.  Why  they  come  to 
some  flowers  and  not  to  others  is  not  apparent,  but  it  will  be 
noticed  from  the  following  list  that  their  most  frequent  occur- 
rences are  on  members  of  the  lily  family  and  on  flowers  clustered 
into  inflorescences.  In  the  following  list,  flower  species  on  which 
three  or  more  collections  of  C.  triste  have  been  made  are  fol- 
lowed by  an  asterisk.  Liliaceae:  Brodiaea  hyacinthina  (Lindl.) 
Baker*,  B.  peduncularis  (Lindl.)  Wats.,  Calochortus  venustus 
Dougl.*,  C.  luteus  Dougl.,  Muilla  maritima  (Torr.)  Wats.;  Iri- 
daceae:  Sisyrinchium  bellum  Wats.;  Ranunculaceae:  Ranunculus 
californicus  Benth.;  Cruciferae:  “mustard”;  Rosaceae:  Amelan- 
chier  sp.,  Adenostoma  fasciculatum  H.  & A.*,  Prunus  ilicifolia 
Walp.,  Rosa  sp.,  Potentilla  sp.;  Leguminosae:  Melilotus  sp.; 
Polygalaceae:  Polygala  alba  Nutt.;  Rhamnaceae:  Ceanothus 
sorediatus  H.  & A.,  Ceanothus  sp.;  Cactaceae:  Opuntia  sp.; 
Umbelliferae:  Lomatium  utriculatum  (T.  & G.)  C.  & R.,  Daucus 
carota  L.,  Heracleum  lanatum  Michx.;  Cornaceae:  Cornus  sp.; 
Asclepiadaceae:  Asclepias  sp.;  Hydrophyllaceae:  Phacelia  sp., 
Eriodictyon  californicum  (H.  & A.)  Greene*;  Scrophulariaceae: 
Penstemon  sp.;  Compositae:  Achillea  borealis  Bong.*,  Baeria 
sp.,  Bidens  sp.*,  Cirsium  sp..  Coreopsis  sp.,  Erigeron  sp.,  Erio- 
phyllum  confertiflorum  Gray*,  Lasthenia  chrysostoma  (F.  & M.) 
Greene*.  Rudbeckia  hirta  L.,  Solidago  sp.,  Wyethia  angustifolia 
Nutt.,  W.  glabra  Gray.  Blatchley  (1910)  recorded  the  species  in 
Indiana  on  yellow  puccoon  (Lithospermum  sp.,  Boraginaceae), 
red  haw  ( Crataegus  coccinea  L.,  Rosaceae),  and  goldenrod 
( Solidago  sp.,  Compositae). 

Cryptorhopalum  rubidum  new  species 

DIAGNOSIS:  8th  (morphological)  abdominal  sternum  of  male 
without  lateral  processes,  sublateral  marginal  papillae,  or  median 
posterior  process  but  with  cluster  of  simple  setae  at  midline  near 
apical  margin;  apex  of  aedeagus  without  proximally  directed 
hook. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALE:  Dorsal  pubescence  uniformly  golden  brown. 
Integument  of  dorsal  surfaces  with  head,  pronotum,  and  base  of 
elytra  piceous;  elytra  becoming  ochreous  red  on  sides  and  on 
apical  half.  Antennal  club  subcylindrical. 

Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  about  % diameter  of  facet  of 
compound  eye  and  separated  by  4 to  5 times  diameter  of  single 
puncture.  Antennal  club  with  both  segments  fuscous;  segment  10 
with  ratio  of  width  to  length  1:1.45;  length  of  segment  11  to 
segment  10  with  ratio  of  1:1.15.  Carina  on  lateroposterior  margin 
of  antennal  fossa  attaining  margin  of  hypomeron  so  that  plane  of 
hypomeron  not  continuous  behind  fossa  (Fig.  6).  Prosternal 
process  with  slight  transverse  convexity  and  without  median 
carina.  Metastemum  with  very  short,  almost  transverse  stria  orig- 
inating at  posterior  margin  of  socket  of  mesocoxa.  First  abdom- 
inal sternum  with  single  oblique  stria  on  each  side  extending 
about  Vi  length  of  segment  from  anterior  margin  of  segment 
beneath  trochanter.  Tibia  of  front  leg  widest  at  middle  and  taper- 


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11 


Figures  22-21.  Figure  22:  Ventral  aspect  of  aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  of  C.  rubidum.  Figure  23:  Same  of  C . filitarse . Figure  24:  Same  of  C.  uteanum. 
Figure  25:  Same  of  C.  apicale.  Figure  26:  Same  of  C.  fusculum.  Figure  27:  aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  of  C.  fusculum  in  lateral  aspect;  for  clarity,  apex  of 
aedeagus  is  figured  ventrad  of  bridge  whereas  it  is  normally  positioned  dorsad  (inside)  of  bridge. 


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12 


Real:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


ing  very  slightly  toward  apex.  Eighth  (morphological)  abdominal 
sternum  with  apical  margin  as  illustrated  (Fig.  9);  no  apical 
median  process  present  but  dense  brush  of  setae  present  at  middle 
of  margin.  Aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  as  illustrated  (Fig.  22). 
Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and 
elytra):  1:1.67.  Length:  1.92  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALE:  Elytra  entirely  ochreous  red.  Ratio  of 
width  to  length  of  segment  10  of  antenna  1:1.42;  ratio  of  length 
of  segment  11  to  length  of  segment  10,  1:1.11.  Antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  half  of  area  of  hypomeron.  5th  visible  abdom- 
inal sternum  without  foveae.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to 
length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  1:1.72.  Length  2.57  mm. 

RANGE  OF  OBSERVED  VARIATIONS:  Elytra  entirely 
ochreous  red,  or  dark  brown  or  black  at  basal  1/5  gradually 
becoming  reddish  brown  on  apical  half.  Antennal  club  of  male 
with  ratio  of  width  to  length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.4  to 
1:1.9;  ratio  of  length  of  segment  1 1 to  length  of  segment  10  vary- 
ing from  1:1.2  to  1:1.7.  Plane  of  hypomeron  continued  behind 
antennal  fossa  or  not;  if  continued  behind  fossa,  then  no  wider  at 
narrowest  point  than  ‘A  times  width  of  segment  3 of  antenna. 
Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra) 
varying  from  1:1.61  to  1:1.76.  Length  of  males  ranging  from 
1.90  mm  to  2.26  mm;  of  females  ranging  from  2.09  mm  to 
2.95  mm. 

TYPE  OF  MATERIAL:  Holotype  male,  allotype  female,  17  para- 
types:  Yuma,  Arizona,  April  13,  1955,  Butler  and  Tuttle.  Addi- 
tional paratypes  as  follows:  Palm  Canyon  [Kofa  Mts.,  Yuma 
Co.]  Ariz.,  May  29,  1955  (G.  Butler  and  D.  Tuttle),  3 spm.; 
Roll,  Arizona,  April  14,  1955  (Butler  and  Werner),  1 spm.;  Inyo 
Mountains,  California,  7000  to  9000  feet  elevation,  July  7-11 
(Wickham),  16  spms.;  Potholes  [near  Laguna  Dam],  Imperial 
County,  California,  April  9,  1923  (E.P.  VanDuzee),  3 spms. 
Holotype  and  allotype  deposited  in  the  CAS  collection.  Paratypes 
distributed  to  collections  of  the  CAS,  LACM,  MCZ,  NMNH,  the 
University  of  Arizona,  and  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  specific  epithet  is  a Latin  adjective  mean- 
ing “reddish”  or  “brownish”  in  reference  to  the  color  of  the 
elytra. 

DISCUSSION:  The  reddish  orange  (rarely  reddish  brown) 
color  of  the  apical  V2  and  often  of  the  entire  elytra  contrasting 
with  the  black  head  and  pronotum  superficially  distinguish  this 
species  from  any  California  Cryptorhopalum  except  C.  uteanum. 
Occasional  specimens  of  C.  apicale  may  have  elytra  that  are  dark 
at  the  base  and  rufous  apically.  These  may  be  distinguished  from 
specimens  of  C.  rubidum  in  that  the  elytral  pubescence  of  C. 
apicale  is  mostly  dark  with  a distinct  subapical  spot  of  white 
pubescence,  or  the  elytral  pubescence  is  whitish,  rather  than 
golden  brown.  Specimens  of  C.  uteanum  usually  have  a darker 
reddish  brown  elytral  integument  than  specimens  of  C.  rubidum, 
but  this  is  not  invariably  true.  The  author  knows  of  no  consistent 
external  character  by  which  these  2 species  may  be  distinguished. 
However,  the  males  are  easily  separated  by  the  very  distinctive 
differences  in  the  structure  of  the  8th  (morphological)  sternum. 

ECOLOGY:  The  specimens  from  Yuma  were  collected  on 
mesquite  ( Prosopis  sp.),  and  the  3 females  from  Palm  Canyon, 
Arizona,  were  taken  on  the  mint  Hyptis  emoryi  Torr.  in  Ives. 

Cryptorhopalum  uteanum  Casey 

Cryptorhopalum  uteanum  Casey  1916,  p.  195. 

Cryptorhopalum  nephianum  Casey  1916,  p.  196  NEW  SYNONYMY. 


Cryptorhopalum  aridum  Casey  1916,  p.  196  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  bakeri  Casey  1916,  p 197  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Dorsal  pubescence  uniformly  whitish  to 
light  golden  brown.  Integument  of  head  and  pronotum  black, 
integument  of  elytra  entirely  black  or  reddish  with  suffused  black 
area  at  base  and  along  suture  at  basal  third,  or  entirely  reddish. 

Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  equal  in  diameter  to  diameter 
of  facet  of  compound  eye  and  separated  by  3 to  4 times  diameter 
of  puncture.  Antennal  club  black  except  for  suffused  dark  reddish 
area  at  base  of  segment  10,  or  segment  11  reddish  black  with 
segment  10  ochraceous;  ratio  of  width  to  length  of  segment  10 
varying  from  1:1.28  to  1:1.92;  ratio  of  length  of  segment  11  to 
length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.15  to  1:1.51.  Antennal 
fossa  at  lateroposterior  margin  reaching  posterior  margin  of 
hypomeron  so  that  plane  of  hypomeron  not  continuous  behind 
fossa,  or  plane  of  hypomeron  continued  very  narrowly  behind 
fossa  with  plane  at  narrowest  point  behind  fossa  no  wider  than 
twice  width  of  carina  bounding  fossa.  Prosternal  process  trans- 
versely convex  without  median  carina.  Metastemum  with  short 
diagonal  stria  originating  at  margin  behind  mesocoxa  and 
directed  toward  middle  of  lateral  margin  of  metastemum.  First 
(visible)  abdominal  sternum  with  single  oblique  stria  on  each  side 
extending  from  anterior  margin  of  segment  beneath  trochanter  for 
about  34  length  of  segment.  Tibia  of  front  leg  widest  at  basal 
third  and  tapering  very  slightly  to  apex,  or  sides  parallel  from 
basal  third  to  apex.  Morphological  abdominal  sternum  8 with 
apical  margin  as  illustrated  (Fig.  13);  two  recurved  dorsal  setae 
of  median  process  inserted  proximally  to  ventral  brush  of  setae 
with  bases  separated  about  twice  width  of  one  socket;  setae  of 
ventral  brush  erect,  compact,  with  acute  apices  (Fig.  17).  Aede- 
agus and  lateral  lobes  as  illustrated  (Fig.  24);  base  of  aedeagus 
furcate  with  hinges  widely  separated.  Ratio  of  width  (across 
humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.60 
to  1:1.74.  Length  varying  from  1.94  mm  to  2.52  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  that  antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  V2  area  of  hypomeron  and  antennal  club  cor- 
respondingly smaller.  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum  without 
foveae.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum 
and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.62  to  1:1.80.  Length  varying  from 
2.06  mm  to  2.83  mm. 

LECTOTYPE  DESIGNATIONS  AND  NOMENCLATURE:  A 
male  from  Provo,  Utah,  bearing  NMNH  type  No.  37562  is  here- 
with designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C.  uteanum.  A male  from  the 
same  series  was  dissected  and  the  genitalia  found  to  be  similar  to 
the  structures  figured  for  this  species. 

A female  from  Nephi,  Utah,  bearing  NMNH  type  No.  73561 
is  herewith  designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C.  nephianum.  This 
specimen  and  the  2 females  next  to  it  in  the  Casey  collection 
definitely  appear  to  be  synonyms  of  C.  uteanum  although  con- 
firming male  genitalic  characters  are  not  available. 

A male  from  8,000  ft.  elevation  in  the  Inyo  Mts.  of  California 
bearing  NMNH  type  label  No.  37568  is  herewith  designated  as 
the  lectotype  of  C.  aridum.  Another  specimen  from  the  same 
series  was  dissected  and  found  to  have  genitalic  characters  iden- 
tical to  those  of  C.  uteanum. 

The  unique  female  from  “Mts.  near  Claremont,  Calif.”  for 
which  Casey  erected  the  species  C.  bakeri  (NMNH  type  No. 
37563)  has  here  been  placed  in  synonymy  with  C.  uteanum, 
since  it  seems  to  match  this  species  better  than  any  other.  The 
identification  carries  a certain  degree  of  uncertainty. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


13 


Figures  28-35.  Figure  28:  Posterior  view  of  left  front  tibia  of  C.  haplotes.  Figure  29:  Same  of  C.  triste.  Figure  30:  Same  of  C.  apicale.  Figure  31:  Lateral 
view  of  apex  of  aedeagus  of  C.  triste.  Figure  32:  Same  of  C.  filitarse.  Figure  33:  Fifth  visible  abdominal  sternum  of  female  of  C.filitarse.  Figure  34: 
Detail  of  apex  of  median  process  of  abdominal  sternum  8 of  C . fusculum  in  lateral  view.  Figure  35:  Same  in  ventral  view. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


14 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


DISCUSSION:  This  species  and  C.  rubidum  cannot  be  distin- 
guished by  any  consistent  external  character.  Males  of  C. 
uteanum  and  C.  rubidum  are  easily  distinguished,  however,  by 
those  genitalic  characters  described  for  each.  Males  of  C. 
uteanum  can  be  distinguished  from  males  of  C.  fusculum  and  C. 
apicale  in  that  C.  uteanum  males  have  a very  narrow  or  obliter- 
ated extension  of  the  hypomeron  behind  the  antennal  fossa.  In 
males  of  both  C.  fusculum  and  C.  apicale  the  hypomeron  behind 
the  fossa  is  at  least  % as  wide  as  segment  3 of  the  antenna.  Color 
characters  can  usually  be  used  to  separate  both  males  and  females 
of  C.  uteanum  from  those  of  C.  apicale  and  C.  fusculum.  Speci- 
mens of  C.  apicale  usually  have  a subapical  spot  of  white  pubes- 
cence on  the  elytron  or  are  covered  with  mostly  whitish  hair  with 
some  intermingled  dark  hairs,  whereas  the  dorsal  pubescence  of 
C.  uteanum  is  always  a uniform  light  golden  white  to  golden 
brown.  C.  fusculum  is  ordinarily  piceous  or  black  in  color.  The 
integument  of  California  specimens  of  C.  uteanum  always 
includes  a certain  amount  of  rufous  coloration  on  the  elytron. 

INFRASPECIFIC  VARIATIONS:  Moderate  series  of  the 
species  have  been  taken  from  San  Diego  County,  California, 
southern  Utah  and  northern  Arizona,  and  the  southeastern  corner 
of  Arizona.  Specimens  from  San  Diego  County  tend  to  have 
darker,  mahogany  red  elytra  in  contrast  to  the  lighter  ochreous 
red  of  specimens  from  southern  Utah  and  northern  Arizona. 
Specimens  from  the  Chiricahua  Mts.  in  southwestern  Arizona 
and  from  the  Davis  Mts.  in  western  Texas  are  entirely  black. 


DISTRIBUTION  (See  Fig.  37)  ARIZONA:  Cochise  Co.: 
Chiricahua  Mts.,  July  9,  1959  (D.J.  and  J.N.  Knull);  same  local- 
ity, July  26,  1952  (D.J.  and  J.N.  Knull).  Coconino  County: 
Cameron,  June  6,  1967  (C.D.  Johnson);  Cameron,  Little  Colo- 
rado River,  June,  1967  (C.D.  Johnson);  Soap  Creek  at  Cliff 
Dwellers,  7 mi.  southwest  of  Marble  Canyon,  June  5,  1953 
(G.D.  Butler).  CALIFORNIA:  Contra  Costa  Co.:  Berkeley,  July 
19,  1958  (J.A.  Litsinger).  Inyo  Co.:  Silver  Canyon,  White  Mts., 
May  10,  1926  (J.O.  Martin).  Los  Angeles  Co.:  Downey,  May, 
1945.  San  Diego  Co.:  1 mi.  south  Del  Mar,  May  23,  1971  (M. 
and  A.  Gilbert);  Idyllwild,  June  20,  1958  (P.S.  Bartholomew); 
Julian,  June  12,  1963  (C.D.  Johnson);  2 miles  west  Mt.  Springs 
(E.P.  Van  Duzee);  San  Diego,  May  10,  June  8,  9,  12,  1920  (E. 
Schiffel).  NEVADA:  Elko  Co.:  Wendover,  June  12,  1933  (J.T. 
Howell).  Nye  Co.:  Tonopah,  June  1,  1914.  NEW  MEXICO:  San 
Miguel  Co.:  Las  Vegas  H.S.,  July  2,  4,  6,  9 (Barber  and 
Schwarz).  TEXAS:  El  Paso  Co.:  El  Paso,  June  27,  1921  (C.D. 
Duncan);  Ft.  Bliss,  May  1,  1915  (J.I.  Carlson).  Jeff  Davis  Co.: 
Davis  Mts.,  July  6,  1936  and  July  15,  1955  (D.J.  and  J.N. 
Knull).  WYOMING:  Sweetwater  Co.:  Green  River,  July  2, 
1920. 

Four  specimens  in  the  CAS  are  labeled  as  taken  at  Seabrook, 
Texas  (Galveston  Co.).  One  specimen  in  the  collection  of  V.M. 
Kirk  is  labeled  as  being  from  Yankton,  S.D.  I believe  both  of 
these  localities  should  be  reconfirmed,  since  they  are  outside  the 
apparent  range  of  the  species. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


15 


ECOLOGY:  Adults  have  been  collected  on  the  crucifer  Stan- 
leya  sp.(  on  the  garden  stock,  Matthiola  incana  (L.)  R.  Br.,  and 
on  carrot  blossoms. 


Cryptorhopalum  apicale  (Mannerheim) 

Anthrenus  apicale  Mannerheim  1843,  p.  258. 

Cryptorhopalum  apicale:  Jayne  1882,  p.  366.  Reitter  1880  (1881),  p.  44. 

Casey,  1900,  p.  157.  Hatch  1962,  p.  290. 

Cryptorhopalum  haemorrhoidale  Horn  1894  (pars),  p.  321. 
Cryptorhopalum  coloradense  Casey  1916,  pp.  192-  193  NEW  SYN- 
ONYMY. 

Cryptorhopalum  tuckeri  Casey  1916,  p.  192  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  fontinale  Casey  1916,  p.  194  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  grisescens  Casey  1916,  p.  195  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES.  Dorsal  pubescence  entirely  whitish,  or 
entirely  light  golden  brown,  or  a mixture  of  varying  amounts  of 
whitish  with  golden  brown  or  blackish  hairs,  or  almost  entirely 
blackish  with  a very  few  golden  brown  hairs;  light  colored  hairs 
of  elytra  often  forming  subbasal  band  and  distinct  subapical  spot 
with  other  hairs  of  elytra  mostly  black.  Dorsal  integument  black, 
immaculate,  or  black  with  subapical  rufous  spot  on  each  elytron, 
or  with  head  and  pronotum  brownish  black  and  elytra  ochreous 
except  for  brownish  area  at  base  and  along  median  suture. 
Antennal  club  subcylindrical. 


Figure  37.  Dots,  distribution  of  C.  uteanum.  Circles,  distribution  of  C. 
rubidum . 


Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  about  as  wide  as  diameter  of 
facet  of  eye  and  separated  by  1 to  3 times  diameter  of  single 
puncture.  Antennal  club  ochreous  to  dark  reddish  brown;  ratio  of 
length  of  segment  11  to  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.1  to  1:1.5; 
ratio  of  length  of  segment  1 1 to  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.2  to 
1:1.7.  Antennal  fossa  at  lateroposterior  margin  not  attaining 
posterior  margin  of  hypomeron;  plane  of  hypomeron  continued 
narrowly  behind  fossa  with  plane  at  narrowest  point  as  wide  as  % 
to  2 times  width  of  antennal  segment  3.  Pronotal  process  without 
median  carina  or  with  very  narrow  impunctate  area  suggesting 
median  carina.  Metastemum  with  diagonal  stria  originating  at 
margin  behind  mesocoxa  and  extending  % to  Vi  distance  toward 
lateroposterior  angle  of  metasternum.  First  visible  abdominal 
sternum  with  single  oblique  stria  extending  on  each  side  from 
anterior  margin  of  segment  beneath  trochanter  to  posterior  mar- 
gin. Tibia  of  front  leg  widest  near  middle  and  tapering  gradually 
toward  apex.  Eighth  (morphological)  abdominal  sternum  with 
apical  median  process  as  illustrated  (Fig.  11);  two  median  dorsal 
setae  at  apex  of  process  recurved  almost  270°,  inserted  distad  to 
ventral  brush  of  setae  with  bases  separated  by  distance  about 
equal  to  width  of  single  socket  (Fig.  18).  Aedeagus  and  lateral 
lobes  as  illustrated  (Fig.  25);  base  of  aedeagus  not  furcate;  apex 
of  aedeagus  with  short,  proximally  directed  hook;  lateral  lobes 
rounding  at  apices.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of 
pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.46  to  1:1.72.  Length  rang- 
ing from  1.87  mm  to  2.64  mm  (Fig.  2). 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  that  antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  half  of  hypomeron  with  antennal  club  cor- 
respondingly smaller.  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum  without 
foveae.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum 
and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.50  to  1:1.72.  Length  ranging  from 
2.12  mm  to  2.69  mm. 

LECTOTYPE  DESIGNATIONS  AND  NOMENCLATURE: 
Each  of  the  species  synonymized  here  with  C.  apicale  is  clearly 
assignable  to  it  on  the  basis  of  dorsal  setal  characters.  The  speci- 
men in  the  NMNH  from  Tucson,  Arizona,  bearing  type  No. 
37566  is  hereby  designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C.  grisescens 
Casey.  A male  from  the  same  series  was  dissected  and  found  to 
have  genitalic  structures  typical  of  C.  apicale. 

The  lectotype  of  C.  fontinale  Casey  is  herewith  designated  as 
NMNH  type  No.  37560.  It  is  one  of  a series  of  7 specimens  from 
Jemez  Springs,  New  Mexico.  The  genitalic  structures  of  one  of 
the  specimens  are  well  exposed  and  serve  to  verify  the  identifica- 
tion of  the  form  with  C.  apicale. 

The  unique  specimen  of  C.  tuckeri  Casey  from  Tucson,  Ari- 
zona (NMNH  type  No.  37555)  has  not  been  dissected,  but  is 
clearly  C.  apicale. 

The  unique  female  type  of  C.  coloradense  Casey  (NMNH  type 
No.  37556)  from  Golden,  Colorado,  lacks  a distinct  subapical 
spot  of  light-colored  pubescence  on  the  elytron  but  does  have  a 
pronounced  subbasal  band  of  light-colored  hairs.  It  falls  within 
the  range  of  variation  of  the  form  of  C.  apicale  found  along  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  Colorado  Rocky  Mts. 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  See  the  distribution  map, 
Fig.  29.  Specimens  have  also  been  collected  at  widely  scatterned 
localities  in  Mexico  as  far  south  as  Cuernavaca. 

DISCUSSION:  For  most  California  specimens  the  presence  of 
a subapical  spot  of  pale  pubescence  on  the  elytron  is  diagnostic. 
Usually  there  is  also  a subapical  rufous  area  in  the  integument 
corresponding  with  the  spot  of  light-colored  pubescence.  Speci- 
mens from  the  San  Francisco  Bay  area  (Santa  Cruz  and  Santa 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


16 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


Figure  38.  Dots,  Nearctic  distribution  of  C.  apicale.  Star,  Florida  locality  of  closely  related  unnamed  species  or  form  conspecific  with  C . apicale. 


Clara  Counties  north  to  Marin,  Napa,  and  Solano  Counties)  often 
have  the  apical  spot  reduced  to  a very  few  hairs  and  very  rarely 
are  found  lacking  the  apical  spot.  Males  without  a subapical  spot 
can  be  distinguished  from  other  California  species  by  the  slightly 
broader  extension  of  the  hypomeron  behind  the  antennal  fossa. 
Both  males  and  females  can  usually  be  recognized  by  the  color  of 
the  antennal  club,  which  is  a light  yellowish  brown  to  a medium 
reddish  brown,  but  never  a dark  brownish  black.  Furthermore, 
both  segments  of  the  club  are  the  same  color.  The  base  of  seg- 
ment 10  may  be  lighter  in  color  than  the  apex  of  segment  11,  but 
there  is  no  change  of  color  between  the  apex  of  segment  10  and 
the  base  of  segment  1 1.  Desert  forms  of  C.  apicale  may  be  cov- 
ered almost  entirely  with  whitish  pubescence,  but  forms  from  the 
California  deserts,  in  contrast  to  those  from  Southern  Arizona 
deserts,  seem  always  to  have  a few  intermingled  dark  hairs,  par- 
ticularly at  the  apical  Vs  of  the  elytra.  In  the  case  of  a few  speci- 
mens collected  near  Yuma,  Arizona,  the  “darker”  hairs  are  a 
light  golden  brown  and  are  not  quickly  distinguishable  from  the 
whitish  hairs. 

SUBSPECIFIC  VARIATIONS:  Because  this  is  a highly  poly- 
typic species,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Casey  should  have 
described  5 of  its  different  forms  as  separate  species.  Each  form, 
however,  intergrades  more  or  less  completely  with  neighboring 
forms.  In  the  north  of  California  and  extending  south  along  the 
Sierra  Nevada  to  the  San  Gabriel  Mountains,  specimens  are 
found  with  the  integument  black  except  for  a large  rufous  area  on 


the  apical  declivity  of  the  elytron.  The  setae  are  brownish  black 
except  for  a few  light  golden  hairs  along  the  lateral  and  posterior 
margins  of  the  pronotum,  a small  lateral  patch  at  the  basal  lA  of 
the  elytron,  and  a prominent  subapical  patch.  In  the  San  Francis- 
co Bay  area  the  apical  rufous  area  is  much  reduced  or  absent  and 
the  number  of  light  golden  hairs  is  reduced  considerably.  In  the 
coastal  ranges  and  valleys  of  Southern  California,  specimens  tend 
to  have  a large  subapical  elytral  patch  of  light  golden  hairs  with  a 
somewhat  pronounced  subbasal  band  of  light  golden  hairs.  The 
most  abrupt  transition  occurs  between  the  montane  and  the  desert 
areas,  where  the  light  colored  hairs  become  whitish  rather  than 
golden  and  the  areas  of  light-colored  hairs  expand  to  cover  the 
pronotum  and  most  of  the  elytra. 

ECOLOGY:  Adults  have  been  recorded  from  flowers  of  14 
families  of  plants.  In  comparison  with  the  number  of  collections 
that  have  been  made  of  the  species,  plant  records  are  too  sparse 
to  draw  any  firm  conclusions  with  respect  to  the  factors  that  may 
make  one  plant  more  attractive  than  another.  In  the  following 
list,  any  plant  species  on  which  C.  apicale  has  been  collected  3 
or  more  times  is  followed  by  an  asterisk.  Liliaceae:  Brodiaea  hya- 
cinthina  (Lindl.),  Calochortus  venustus  Dougl.*;  Salicaceae: 
Salix  spp.*;  Fagaceae:  Quercus  sp.;  Cruciferae:  Brassica  sp.; 
Capparidaceae:  Cleome  sp.;  Rosaceae:  Rubus  sp.,  Adenostoma 
fasciculatum  H.  & A.*,  Holodiscus  discolor  (Pursh)  Maxim., 
Physocarpus  sp.,  Prunus  ilicifolia  Walp.*;  Leguminosae:  Meli- 
lotus  alba  Desr.*,  Astragalus  sp.;  Rhamnaceae:  Ceanothus  sore- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


17 


diatus  H.  & A.*,  C.  integerrimus  H.  & A.*,  C.  cuneatus  (Hook) 
Nutt.,  Ceanothus  sp.*,  Rhamnus  crocea  Nutt.;  Malvaceae:  cot- 
ton; Tamaricaceae:  Tamarix  gallica  L.*;  Umbelliferae:  Hera- 
cleum  lanatum  Michx.,  Ligusticum  apiodorum  (Gray)  C.  & R., 
Angelica  tomentosa  Wats.*,  “wild  parsnip”;  Asclepiadaceae: 
Asclepias  sp.;  Boraginaceae:  Cryptantha  sp.;  Rubiaceae:  Galium 
boreale  L.;  Caprifoliaceae:  Sambucus  mexicana  Presl.;  Composi- 
tae:  Baccharis  glutinosa  Pers.*  Baccharis  sp.,  Senecio  salignus 
DC. 

In  San  Mateo  County,  California,  where  C.  apicale  occurs 
sympatrically  with  C.  triste,  both  species  occur  with  moderate 
frequency  on  Calochortus  venustus  and  Adenostoma  fasciculatum 
(P.H.  Raven,  in  litt.).  C.  apicale  occurs  with  great  frequency  on 
species  of  Ceanothus,  on  which  C.  triste  is  taken  only  occasion- 
ally. On  the  other  hand,  although  C.  apicale  occurs  on  various 
Compositae  elsewhere  in  its  range,  it  has  not  been  taken  on  any 
composites  in  San  Mateo  County.  Yet  C.  triste  occurs  frequently 
in  San  Mateo  County  on  a number  of  composites,  particularly 
Achillea  borealis,  Eriophyllum  confertiflorum,  and  Lasthenia 
chrysostoma. 

At  Granite  Reef  Dam,  Maricopa  County,  Arizona,  a moderate 
series  was  taken  on  March  18,  1974,  on  catkins  of  Salix  sp.  and 
one  specimen  on  Tamarix  gallica.  However,  no  specimens  could 
be  collected  on  other  adjacent  flowers,  including  Baccharis  sp., 
Nicotiana  glauca  Graham,  or  Pluchea  sericea  (Nutt.)  Coville. 

Records  of  occurrence  of  adults  have  not  been  kept  for  any  one 
locality  through  a long  enough  period  of  time  to  discover  any 
correlations  between  dates  of  their  appearance  and  environmental 
factors.  Across  the  entire  range  for  the  species,  adults  have  been 
taken  between  December  30  and  October  23.  In  California  west 
of  the  Sierra  Nevada,  the  greatest  number  of  collections  were 
made  in  the  two  week  period  from  April  22  through  May  5.  In 
the  deserts  of  California  and  Arizona,  the  greatest  number  of  col- 
lections were  made  in  the  two  week  period  of  July  29  through 
August  11,  no  doubt  correlations  with  blooming  periods. 


Cryptorhopalum  fusculum  LeConte 

Cryptorhopalum  fusculum  LeConte  1854,  p.  111.  Reitter  1880  (1881), 
p.  44.  Casey  1900,  p.  158. 

Cryptorhopalum  triste  war.  fusculum:  Jayne  1882,  p.  367. 
Cryptorhopalum  anthrax  Casey  1900,  p.  157  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  granum  Casey  1900,  p.  157  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  affine  Casey  1900,  p.  157  (non  affine  Reitter  1880 
(1881)  ).  Sharp  1902,  p.  657  REVISED  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  pumilum  Casey  1900,  p.  158  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  caseyi  Dalla  Torre  1911,  p.  73  (nov.  nom.  proC.  affine 
Casey  1900). 

Cryptorhopalum  piceum  Casey  1916,  p.  198  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Dorsal  pubescence  uniformly  light  golden  to 
dark  golden  brown;  integument  of  dorsal  surfaces  immaculate, 
mahogany  brown  to  black.  Antennal  club  subcylindrical. 

Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  minute,  % times  as  wide  as  to 
equal  in  width  to  diameter  of  single  facet  of  eye;  punctures  sepa- 
rated by  distance  equal  to  3 to  5 times  diameter  of  single  punc- 
ture. Antennal  club  with  segment  10  entirely  light  yellowish 
brown  or  light  yellowish  brown  at  base  becoming  fuscous  apical- 
ly;  segment  1 1 usually  entirely  fuscous  but  occasionally  light  yel- 
lowish brown  at  base;  ratio  of  width  to  length  of  segment  10 
varying  from  1:1.2  to  1:1.7  (Fig.  7).  Plane  of  hypomeron  con- 


tinued behind  antennal  fossa  with  hypomeron  at  narrowest  point 
behind  lateroposterior  margin  of  fossa  equal  to  or  not  less  than 
4/5  as  wide  as  segment  3 of  antenna  (Fig.  7).  Prosternal  process 
transversely  flat  to  slightly  concave  without  median  carina  or 
rarely  with  low,  thread-like  carina  on  apical  half.  Metasternum 
with  short,  oblique  stria  originating  at  medial  margin  of  meso- 
coxal  socket  and  extending  not  more  than  Vi  distance  toward 
middle  of  lateral  margin  of  metastemum.  First  visible  abdominal 
sternum  with  single  oblique  stria  on  each  side  extending  from 
anterior  margin  of  segment  beneath  trochanter  Vi  to  % length  of 
segment.  Tibia  of  front  leg  widest  at  middle  and  tapering  slightly 
toward  apex.  Eighth  (morphological)  abdominal  sternum  with 
apical  margin  as  illustrated  (Fig.  8);  two  recurved  setae  inserted 
dorsally  on  median  process;  setae  of  ventral  brush  inserted 
apically  on  process,  compactly  arranged,  with  rounding  apices 
(Figs.  34,  35).  Aedeagus  strongly  curved  dorsoventrally;  apex 
without  proximally  directed  hook  (Fig.  27).  Lateral  lobes  with 
long,  somewhat  coarse  setae  at  apices  (Fig.  26).  Ratio  of  width 
(across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from 
1:1.51  to  1:1.70.  Length  ranging  from  1.63  mm  to  2.50  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  that  antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  Vz  of  hypomeron  and  antennal  club  correspond- 
ingly smaller.  Fifth  visible  abdominal  sternum  without  foveae. 
Length  ranging  from  2.06  mm  to  2.66  mm. 

NOMENCLATURE:  The  female  holotype  of  C.  fusculum 
(MCZ  type  No.  6880)  from  “Colorado  River,  California,” 
seems  quite  certainly  to  be  identical  with  the  species  described 
here.  The  dark  color  of  the  dorsal  integument  practically  excludes 
its  identity  with  C.  rubidum.  The  only  California  species  with 
which  it  might  be  confused  is  C.  uteanum,  but  this  does  not 
occur  where  LeConte  probably  collected  his  specimen. 

The  female  holotype  of  C.  affine  Casey  (NMNH  type  No. 
37565)  from  Benicia,  Solano  Co.,  California,  is  identical  with 
this  species.  On  my  advice,  Mroczkowski  (1968)  synonymized 
C.  affine  Casey  with  C.  triste  LeConte.  A reexamination  of  the 
specimen  shows  that  I was  in  error.  The  apex  of  the  front  tibia  is 
definitely  not  expanded,  as  is  true  of  specimens  of  C.  triste. 

Also  identical  with  this  species  are  the  unique  types  of  C. 
anthrax  Casey  (NMNH  type  No.  37570),  a female  from  Arizona, 
C.  piceum  Casey  (NMNH  type  No.  37564),  a female  from 
Claremont,  California,  and  C.  pumilum  Casey  (NMNH  type  No. 
37571),  a female  from  Arizona.  Although  confirming  genitalic 
characters  are  unavailable,  these  all  have  setal  characters 
typical  of  C.  fusculum.  The  male  type  of  C.  granum  Casey 
(NMNH  type  No.  37569)  from  Arizona  was  dissected  and  found 
definitely  to  be  this  species. 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  See  the  United  States  dis- 
tribution on  the  map,  Fig.  30.  In  addition  to  the  localities  shown 
on  the  map,  the  species  has  been  found  in  Baja  California,  Mex- 
ico, at  the  following  localities:  10  miles  south  of  Punta  Prieta, 
June  21,  1938  (Michelbacher  and  Ross),  44  km  south  of  Tijuana, 
June,  1952  (N.L.H.  Krauss),  19  miles  east  of  Rosario,  June  17, 
1938  (Michelbacher  and  Ross),  and  Isla  Partida,  March  23,  1953 
(P.H.  Arnaud).  It  was  taken  in  Sonora,  Mexico,  at  Cumbre  del 
Frente,  3 miles  east  of  Guaymas,  April  30,  1952  (J.P.  Figg- 
Hoblyn). 

DISCUSSION:  Within  California  this  species  is  most  likely  to 
be  confused  with  C.  rubidum  or  C.  uteanum.  Normally  the  dark 
color  of  the  integument  will  distinguish  it  from  these  species, 
both  of  which,  in  California,  at  least,  have  elytra  that  are  apically 
rufous  or  entirely  rufous  or  mahogany  brown.  Occasional  speci- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


18 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


mens  of  C.  fusculum,  which  I take  to  be  teneral,  have  rufous 
elytra.  In  these  cases  males  may  be  distinguished  by  the  greater 
width  of  the  hypomeron  behind  the  lateroposterior  angle  of  the 
antennal  fossa  in  C.  fusculum,  but  I know  of  no  satisfactory  way 
of  distinguishing  such  females. 

ECOLOGY:  In  desert  areas  adults  have  been  collected  com- 
monly on  flowers  of  the  legumes  Prosopis  juliflora  (Swartz) 
DC.,  Acacia  greggii  A.  Gray,  and  Cercidium  microphyllum 
(Torr.)  Rose  and  Johnston,  on  flowers  of  Tamarix  gallica  L.,  on 
Eriogonum  spp.,  and  on  mustards  of  the  genus  Stanleya.  Across 
the  entire  range  of  the  species,  single  collections  have  been 
recorded  from  the  flowers  of  each  of  the  following:  Chenopo- 
diaceae:  Atriplex  hymenelytra  (Torr.)  Wats.;  Rosaceae:  Pyra- 
cantha  sp.;  Rhamnaceae:  Condalia  sp.;  Asclcpiadaceae:  As- 
clepias  sp.;  Compositae:  Aster  spinosus  Benth.  It  was  also 
recorded  “in  apricots”  in  Sacramento,  California.  In  the  Spring 
Mts.  of  Clark  County,  Nevada  (near  Bonnie  Springs),  I collected 
specimens  in  moderate  abundance  on  flowers  of  Eriogonum  sp. 
but  no  individuals  could  be  found  on  flowers  of  Salix  sp.  or  Virus 
sp.  in  the  same  vicinity. 


Cryptorhopalum  filitarse  Casey 

Cryptorhopalum  filitarse  Casey  1900,  p.  156. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Dorsal  integument  with  head  black  to  light 
reddish  brown,  pronotum  and  elytra  mahogany  to  light  reddish 
brown.  Dorsal  pubescence  consisting  of  closely  appressed,  light 
or  dark  golden  brown  hairs  and  golden  white  to  whitish  hairs. 
Antennal  club  ovate,  rufous. 

Pronotum  with  golden  white  or  whitish  pubescence  on  sides 
and  on  basal  lobe  and  golden  brown  or  mixed  golden  brown  and 
whitish  hairs  on  disc;  punctures  of  disc  about  as  wide  as  diameter 
of  facet  of  compound  eye  and  separated  by  2 to  3 diameters  of 
single  puncture.  Elytra  with  golden-brown  hairs,  except  for 
light-colored  hairs  distributed  as  follows:  few  hairs  or  dense  band 
of  hairs  (as  dense  as  submedian  band)  along  basal  margin,  nar- 
row submedian  band,  narrow  or  broad  subapical  band,  light- 
colored  hairs  along  lateral  margin  between  submedian  and 
subapical  bands  present  or  absent,  small  or  large  apical  patch; 
subapical  band  of  light-colored  hairs  and  apical  patch  occasion- 
ally confluent.  Antenna  with  ratio  of  width  to  length  of  segment 
10  varying  from  1:1.1  to  1:1.2;  ratio  of  length  of  segment  11  to 
length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:1.0  to  1:1.3.  Process  of 
prostemum  without  median  carina.  Plane  of  hypomeron  behind 
antennal  fossa  as  wide  at  narrowest  point  as  IV2  times  width  of 
antennal  segment  3.  Metasternum  with  or  without  short,  oblique 
stria  originating  at  posterior  margin  of  mesocoxal  cavity.  Front 
tibia  widest  at  middle  and  tapering  gradually  toward  apex.  Eighth 
(morphological)  abdominal  sternum  as  illustrated  (Fig.  14);  lat- 
eral process  well  developed  with  terminal  seta  slender;  tuft  of 
simple  setae  present  at  apex  of  slightly  expanded  median  area. 
Aedeagus  and  lateral  lobes  as  illustrated  (Fig.  23);  genital  pore 
simple  with  small  dorsal  lobe  but  without  proximally  directed 
hook  (Fig.  32).  Ratio  of  width  (across  hunieri)  to  length  (of  pro- 
notum and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.58  to  1:1.64.  Length  ranging 
from  1.70  mm  to  2.06  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  that  antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  half  of  hypomeron,  and  5th  visible  abdominal 
sternum  with  2,  circular,  very  slightly  depressed  foveae,  each 


with  diameter  about  equal  to  half  greatest  length  of  segment  and 
each  bounded  by  feeble,  interrupted,  thread-like  carina  (Fig.  33). 
Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra) 
varying  from  1:1.58  to  1:1.70.  Length  ranging  from  1.74  mm  to 
2. 1 1 mm. 

LECTOTYPE  DESIGNATION:  The  NMNH  specimen  bearing 
type  label  No.  37552,  a female,  is  herewith  designated  as  the 
lectotype.  The  specimen  bears  a label  with  the  letters  “Cal,” 
which  are  underlined.  According  to  the  original  description,  the 
locality  is  Santa  Barbara,  California.  One  male  and  5 females 
next  to  it  bear  the  same  label.  The  male  was  dissected  and  found 
to  have  genital  structures  similar  to  those  figured  here  for  the 
species . 

GEOGRAPHIC  DISTRIBUTION:  CALIFORNIA:  Imperial 
County:  Santa  Rosa  Mts.,  July  4,  1946  (D.J.  and  J.N.  Knull). 
Inyo  County:  Inyo  Mts.,  7,000  to  8,000  ft.  elev.,  July  7-11 
(Wickham);  Westgard  Pass,  July  22,  1961  (J.S.  Buckett);  3 miles 
southwest  of  Westgard  Pass,  July  18,  1964  (C.D.  Johnson).  Los 
Angeles  County:  San  Gabriel  Canyon,  August  8,  1960  (Fred  G. 
Andrews).  Orange  County:  Fullerton,  August  2,  1930  (Barthol- 
omew). Riverside  County:  San  Jacinto  Mts.,  July  21,  1929  (L.D. 
Anderson).  Tulare  County:  Giant  Forest,  July  28,  1929  (R.H. 
Bcamer).  Tuolumne  County:  Elizabeth  Lake  [Yosemite  National 
Park],  July  10,  1924  (W.  Benedict).  Ventura  County:  Ojai, 
August  29,  1950  (F.W.  Furry).  See  map.  Fig.  31. 

DISCUSSION:  This  species  and  C.  balteatum  are  readily  dis- 
tinguishable from  all  the  preceding  species  by  the  presence  of  3 


Figure  39.  Nearctic  distribution  of  C.  fusculum. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


19 


or  4 distinct  bands  of  light-colored  pubescence  across  the  elytra, 
by  the  ovate  rather  than  subcylindrical  antennal  club,  and  by  the 
presence  of  2 round  foveae  on  the  5th  visible  abdominal  sternum 
of  the  female.  However,  the  2 species  are  very  difficult  to  sepa- 
rate from  each  other  on  the  basis  of  external  characters.  Genitalic 
characters  easily  separate  the  males.  The  sternum  of  the  8th 
abdominal  segment  of  C.  filitarse  has  a tuft  of  setae  at  the  middle 
of  the  apical  margin,  but  these  are  lacking  in  C.  balteatum.  The 
lateral  process  of  the  sternum  of  the  same  segment  of  C.  filitarse 
bears  a slender  apical  seta,  whereas  the  lateral  process  of  C.  bal- 
teatum bears  an  apical  seta  that  is  about  as  wide  as  the  apex  of 
the  process  itself.  The  aedeagus  of  C.  filitarse  has  a genital  pore 
that  is  more  or  less  apical  with  a small  proximal  lobe  but  without 
a proximally  directed  hook  as  found  in  C.  balteatum. 

ECOLOGY:  Adults  have  been  collected  on  flowers  of  Erio- 
gonum  sp.  and  Asclepias  sp. 

Cryptorhopalum  balteatum  LeConte 

Cryptorhopalum  balteatum  LeConte  1854,  p.  111.  Reitter  1880  (1881), 
p.  43.  Jayne  1882,  p.  365. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALES:  Dorsal  integument  with  head  and  thorax 


Figure  40.  Dots,  distribution  of  C.  filitarse.  Circles,  distribution  of  C. 
balteatum.  Question  mark,  record  of  C.  balteatum  for  county  only. 


piceous  to  black  and  elytra  dark  mahogany  brown  to  rufous.  Dor- 
sal pubescence  consisting  of  piceous  and  golden,  depressed  hairs. 
Antennal  club  ovate,  rufous. 

Pronotum  with  golden  hairs  on  sides  and  on  basal  lobe  and 
with  piceous  hairs  covering  disc;  punctures  of  disc  about  as  wide 
as  diameter  of  facet  of  eye  and  separated  by  3 to  5 times  diameter 
of  single  puncture.  Elytra  with  piceous  hairs  except  for  golden 
hairs  distributed  as  follows:  few  or  none  along  basal  margin, 
patch  on  humerus  coalescing  with  narrow  submedian  band,  nar- 
row or  broad  subapical  band  with  none  along  lateral  margin 
between  submedian  and  subapical  bands  except  for  single  line  of 
hairs  on  lateral  carina,  patch  on  apex.  Antennal  club  with  ratio  of 
width  to  length  of  segment  10  varying  from  1:0.8  to  1:1.5;  ratio 
of  length  of  segment  11  to  length  of  segment  10  varying  from 
1:1.2  to  1:1.5.  Prosternal  process  without  median  carina. 
Hypomeron  behind  antennal  fossa  at  narrowest  point  about  IV2 
times  as  wide  as  antennal  segment  3 (Fig.  4).  Metasternum  with 
fine,  sometimes  short  stria  extending  obliquely  outward  from 
lateroposterior  margin  of  mesocoxal  cavity.  Front  tibia  widest  at 
apical  3/5  and  tapering  gradually  toward  apex.  Eighth  (morpho- 
logical) sternum  with  stout,  evenly  curving  seta  inserted  at  apex 
of  lateral  process;  seta  terminating  abruptly  rather  than  gradually 
becoming  filamentous;  middle  of  apical  margin  of  sternum  with- 
out process  or  cluster  of  setae  (Fig.  15).  Aedeagus  with  ventrally 
directed  hook-like  process  at  apex  (Fig.  21);  lateral  lobes  with 
moderately  broad  bridge.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to 
length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.50  to  1:1.65. 
Length  1.79  mm  to  2.28  mm. 

ADULT  FEMALES:  As  males  except  that  antennal  fossa 
occupying  about  V2  area  of  hypomeron  and  antennal  club  cor- 
respondingly smaller.  Fifth  visible  abdominal  sternum  with  2, 
circular,  very  slightly  depressed  foveae,  each  with  diameter  about 
equal  to  % greatest  length  of  segment,  not  or  indefinitely  mar- 
gined by  thread-like  carina.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to 
length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.54  to  1:1.66. 
Length  ranging  from  2. 18  mm  to  2.47  mm. 

DISTRIBUTION:  CALIFORNIA:  Kern  County,  May,  1934 
(A.T.  McClay).  Los  Angeles  County:  Mint  Canyon,  June  24, 
1949  (L.W.  Isaac);  2 miles  north  of  Valyermo,  June  4,  1970 
(R.S.  Beal). 

SYSTEMATICS:  The  female  holotype  (MCZ  type  No.  6875) 
from  San  Diego,  California,  appears  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the 
species  described  here,  but  the  overlapping  range  of  external 
characters  between  this  species  and  C.  filitarse  leaves  a small 
margin  of  doubt.  Two  specimens  stand  under  the  name  in 
LeConte’s  collection,  but  the  second,  which  is  C.  pruddeni 
Casey,  is  dated  1879,  so  is  not  part  of  a type  series. 

As  with  many  other  closely  related  allopatric  forms  in  which 
there  is  no  evidence  of  a genetically  controlled  barrier  to  repro- 
duction, C.  balteatum  and  C.  reversum  Casey  could  be  treated 
with  equal  propriety  as  distinct  species  or  as  subspecies.  There 
are  consistent  differences  between  the  two  in  setal  color,  but 
these  seem  relatively  insignificant  in  view  of  the  variations  of 
setal  color  and  pattern  found  across  the  range  of  C.  reversum. 
Nevertheless,  the  forms  are  treated  here  as  distinct  species,  since 
consistent  differences,  however  small,  do  exist  and  since  a rela- 
tively wide  barrier  of  desert  seems  to  separate  them.  Future  col- 
lecting, particularly  along  the  Mexican  border,  might  necessitate 
a new  interpretation  of  their  status.  C.  reversum  presently  is 
known  to  occur  from  the  Chiricahua  Mountains  in  the  southeast- 
ern corner  of  Arizona  east  to  Brownsville,  Texas. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


20 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


DISCUSSION:  This  species  is  in  the  same  species  group  as  the 
sympatric  C.  filitarse.  For  a discussion  of  the  differences 
between  the  two,  refer  to  the  discussion  under  C.  filitarse.  Exter- 
nally the  species  is  quite  similar  to  C.  pruddeni  Casey  (1900), 
which  extends  from  Yavapai  and  Coconino  Counties  in  Arizona 
southeast  to  Brewster  County,  Texas,  and  northeast  to  Garfield 
County,  Colorado.  Externally  the  two  may  be  distinguished  by  the 
fact  that  the  dorsal  integument  of  C.  pruddeni  is  more  or  less 
unicolorous,  in  distinction  to  the  contrasting  darker  pronotal  and 
lighter  elytral  integument  of  C.  balteatum.  Also  in  C.  balteatum 
the  light-colored  dorsal  setae  are  a deep  golden  color  rather  than 
golden-white  or  whitish  as  in  C.  pruddeni.  The  8th  (morphologi- 
cal) abdominal  sternum  of  the  males  of  each  is  provided  with 
lateral  processes  which  bear  at  the  apex  a stout,  curved  seta.  In 
C.  balteatum  this  seta  is  relatively  stout  for  its  entire  length  and 
terminates  rather  abruptly.  In  C.  pruddeni  the  seta  is  stout  at  the 
base  but  gradually  becomes  finely  filamentous. 

C.  reversion  and  C.  balteatum  have  apparently  identical  male 
genitalic  characters.  The  light-colored  dorsal  setae  of  C.  bal- 
teatum are  a deep  golden  color.  Specimens  of  C.  balteatum  lack 
light-colored  setae  between  the  subbasal  band  and  the  sub  median 
band  of  light  pubescence.  Most  specimens  of  C.  reversion  have  a 
mixture  of  light  and  dark  setae  between  these  two  bands  as  well 
as  a number  of  light-colored  setae  between  the  basal  band  and  the 
subbasal  band.  However,  a few  specimens  of  C.  reversum  ap- 
proach the  situation  found  in  C.  balteatum. 

ECOLOGY:  The  only  information  is  that  adults  were  collected 
2 miles  north  of  Valyermo,  California,  in  flowers  of  Yucca  sp. 


Cryptorhopalum  haplotes  new  species 

DIAGNOSIS:  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to  length  (of 
pronotum  and  elytra)  greater  than  1:1.86.  Eighth  (morphological) 
sternum  of  male  with  sublateral  papillae  on  apical  margin  but 
without  lateral  processes  or  median  process;  cluster  of  simple 
setae  inserted  along  apical  margin  at  middle. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

ADULT  MALE:  Dorsal  integument  with  head  and  pronotum 
dark  mahogany  brown;  elytra  rufous;  each  elytron  with  suffused, 
slightly  darker  area  at  about  basal  V4  and  median  Vs.  Dorsal 
pubescence  mahogany  brown,  suberect;  ventral  pubescence 
golden  brown,  recumbent. 

Pronotum  with  punctures  of  disc  minute,  about  % times  as 
wide  as  width  of  facet  of  compound  eye  and  separated  by  2 to  4 
times  diameter  of  single  puncture.  Antenna  and  hypomeron  as 
illustrated  (Fig.  3);  antennal  club  reddish  brown.  Antennal  fossa 
bounded  behind  by  thread-like  carina;  width  of  plane  of  hypom- 
eron at  narrowest  point  behind  fossa  (exclusive  of  width  of 
carina)  about  as  wide  as  V2  width  of  segment  3 of  antenna.  Pro- 
sternal  process  without  median  or  lateral  carinae,  transversely 
flat.  Metasternum  without  oblique  striae.  First  visible  abdominal 
sternum  with  single,  oblique  stria  originating  beneath  trochanter 
and  extending  3A  distance  to  posterior  margin  of  segment.  Tibia 
of  foreleg  as  illustrated  (Fig.  28).  Eighth  (morphological)  abdom- 
inal sternum  with  cluster  of  setae  at  middle  of  apical  margin  and 
with  small  papilla-like  sublateral  process  bearing  long,  slender 
setae  (Fig.  12).  Lateral  lobes  with  somewhat  rounding,  not  trun- 
cated, apices;  bridge  moderately  narrow  (Fig.  16).  Aedeagus 
with  small,  proximally  directed  hook  at  apex.  Length  (of  pro- 
notum and  elytra):  2.38  mm.  Width  (across  humeri):  1.27  mm. 


ADULT  FEMALE:  Integument  of  head  dark  mahogany  brown; 
pronotum  rufous  with  suffused  darker  areas  across  disc;  elytra 
rufous;  each  elytron  with  suffused  darker  area  at  about  basal  14 
and  median  Vs.  Antenna  and  hypomeron  as  illustrated  (Fig.  5). 
Visible  abdominal  sternum  5 without  foveae.  Length  (of  prono- 
tum and  elytra):  3.07  mm.  Width  (across  humeri):  1.54  mm. 

RANGE  OF  OBSERVED  VARIATIONS:  Pronotum  ochreous 
to  dark  mahogany  with  or  without  light  and  dark  mottled  appear- 
ance; elytra  ochreous  to  light  brown  with  or  without  darker,  suf- 
fused subbasal  areas.  Length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  ranging 
from  2.23  mm  to  3.07  mm.  Ratio  of  width  (across  humeri)  to 
length  (of  pronotum  and  elytra)  varying  from  1:1.86  to  1:2.07. 

TYPE  MATERIAL:  Holotype  male,  allotype  female,  and  7 
paratypes:  Jacumba  (San  Diego  County),  California,  June  19, 
1951  (D.J.  and  J.N.  Knull).  Holotype  and  allotype  deposited  in 
the  collection  of  Ohio  State  University;  paratypes  deposited  in  the 
collections  of  the  CAS,  the  LACM,  the  NMNH,  and  the  collec- 
tion of  the  author. 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  specific  epithet  is  formed  from  the  Greek 
noun  arrAoTT]?  standing  in  apposition  with  Cryptorhopalum  and 
meaning  “simplicity.”  This  is  in  reference  to  the  simple  structure  of 
morphological  abdominal  segment  8 of  the  male. 

DISCUSSION:  The  elongated  form  will  easily  distinguish  this 
species  from  any  other  member  of  the  Nearctic  fauna.  At  least 
one  other  species  belonging  to  the  same  species  group  occurs  in 
Mexico  in  the  state  of  TIaxcala.  Whether  this  species  is  among 
those  presently  described  and  assigned  to  Hemirhopalum  is  not 
known.  The  Mexican  species  seems  to  be  readily  distinguishable 
from  C.  haplotes  by  male  genitalic  characters  as  well  as  by  the 
color  of  the  dorsal  pubescence,  the  shape  of  the  antennal  club, 
and  other  external  features. 

ECOLOGY:  Quite  a few  pollen  grains  were  found  adhering  to 
the  ventral  surfaces  of  each  of  the  specimens,  indicating  that  they 
were  taken  in  flowers.  An  examination  of  the  pollen  showed  it  to 
have'come  from  a plant  within  the  order  Rosales,  but  a species 
for  which  the  pollen  characteristics  appear  to  be  undescribed. 
Other  details  of  the  biological  relationships  of  the  species  are 
unknown. 


SYNONYMIES  AND  LECTOTYPE 
DESIGNATIONS 

FOR  C.  REVERSUM  AND  C.  PRUDDENI 

Since  these  two  species  are  very  closely  allied  to  C.  balteatum 
and  since  a further  understanding  of  C.  balteatum  probably 
depends  in  part  on  an  understanding  of  its  relationships  to  these  2 
species,  it  seems  appropriate  to  present  synonymies  that  have 
been  discovered  for  them. 

Cryptorhopalum  reversum  Casey 

Cryptorhopalum  reversum  Casey,  1900,  p.  156. 

Cryptorhopalum  festivum  Casey,  1900,  p.  156  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  balteatum  Casey,  1900,  p.  156  (non  balteatum  LeConte, 
1854)  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

Cryptorhopalum  pollens  Casey,  1916,  p.  193  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

A female  from  Ft.  Wingate,  New  Mexico,  bearing  NMNH 
type  No.  37554  is  herewith  designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C. 
reversum . 

A female  from  Brownsville,  Texas,  bearing  NMNH  type  No. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


21 


37558  is  herewith  designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C.  festivum. 

A female  from  El  Paso,  Texas,  bearing  NMNH  type  No. 

37559  is  herewith  designated  as  the  lectotype  of  C.  pallens.  The 
specimen  is  badly  abraded,  so  identification  with  C.  reversum  is 
conjectural . 

The  single  specimen  which  Casey  identified  in  his  collection  as 
C.  balteatum  is  a female  labeled  only  as  collected  in  Arizona. 

Cryptorhopalum  pruddeni  Casey 

Cryptorhopalum  pruddeni  Casey,  1900,  p.  156. 

Cryptorhopalum  insigne  Casey,  1916,  p.  191  NEW  SYNONYMY. 
Cryptorhopalum  anthrenoides  Casey,  1916,  p.  194  NEW  SYNONYMY. 

Three  females  comprise  the  series  from  which  Casey  described 
C.  pruddeni,  these  taken  in  Arizona  at  the  “Canon  of  the  Colo- 
rado River”  (probably  on  the  south  rim  of  the  Grand  Canyon). 
The  specimen  bearing  NMNH  type  No.  37550  is  herewith  desig- 
nated as  the  lectotype.  It  appears  to  be  a teneral  individual  of  the 
species. 

The  female  specimen  bearing  NMNH  type  No.  37553  from 
Jemez  Springs,  New  Mexico,  is  herewith  designated  as  the  lecto- 
type of  C.  insigne. 

The  unique  type  of  C.  anthrenoides  from  the  Santa  Catalina 
Mts.,  Arizona,  is  NMNH  type  No.  37557. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

This  study  could  not  have  been  completed  without  the  gener- 
ous cooperation  of  a number  of  individuals  and  institutions.  I am 
indebted  for  the  loan  or  gift  of  specimens  to  William  F.  Barr  of 
the  University  of  Idaho,  the  late  Lutz  Bayer  of  the  University  of 
Wisconsin,  Frank  F.  Hasbrouck  of  Arizona  State  University, 
Charles  L.  Hogue  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles 
County,  Paul  D.  Hurd,  Jr.,  formerly  responsible  for  the  Califor- 
nia Insect  Survey  of  the  University  of  California,  Berkeley,  C. 
Daniel  Johnson  of  Northern  Arizona  University,  David  H.  Kava- 
naugh  of  the  California  Academy  of  Sciences,  John  M.  King- 
solver  of  the  Systematic  Entomology  Laboratory,  U.S.D.A., 
National  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Vernon  L.  Kirk  of  the  Ento- 
mology and  Crops  Research  Division  of  the  Agricultural 
Research  Service,  Brookings,  South  Dakota,  John  F.  Lawrence 
of  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  the  late  A.T.  McClay 
of  the  University  of  California,  Davis,  Scott  McCleve  of  Doug- 
las, Arizona,  D.H.  Pengelly  of  the  University  of  Guelph, 
Guelph,  Ontario,  P.H.  Raven  of  Stanford  University,  H.J.  Rein- 
hard  of  Texas  A.  and  M.  University,  E.P.  Rouse  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Arkansas,  Jerome  G.  Rozen,  Jr.,  of  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  M.W.  Sanderson,  formerly  of  the  111- 
nois  Natural  History  Survey,  Joe  Schuh  of  Klamath  Falls,  Ore- 
gon, Terry  L.  Seeno  of  the  California  Department  of  Food  and 
Agriculture,  C.A.  Triplehorn  of  Ohio  State  University,  Robert  H. 
Turnbow,  Jr.,  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  Floyd  G.  Werner  of 
the  University  of  Arizona,  and  R.E.  Woodruff  of  the  Division  of 
Plant  Industry  of  the  Florida  Department  of  Agriculture.  My 
thanks  are  extended  to  Richard  H.  Hevly  of  Northern  Arizona 
University  for  some  plant  and  pollen  identifications.  Additional 
thanks  are  due  C.  Daniel  Johnson,  J.M.  Kingsolver,  Floyd 
Werner,  and  Terry  L.  Seeno  for  a critical  reading  of  the  manu- 
script. 

I am  particularly  appreciative  of  a grant  from  the  Systematic 
Entomology  Laboratory,  1IBIII,  ARS,  U.S.  Department  of  Agri- 


culture, which  allowed  me  as  a visiting  scientist  to  study  type 
specimens  in  the  Thomas  L.  Casey  collection  and  to  study  mate- 
rial deposited  in  the  collection  of  the  United  States  National  Mu- 
seum of  Natural  History. 

LITERATURE  CITED 

Arrow,  G.J.  1915.  Notes  on  the  Coleopterous  family  Dermesti- 
dae,  and  descriptions  of  some  new  forms  in  the  British  Mu- 
seum. Ann.  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  ser.  8,  15:425-451. 

Beal,  R.S.,  Jr.  1959.  A key  to  the  Nearctic  genera  of  Dermesti- 
dae.  Coleopterists’  Bull.,  13:99-101. 

. 1975.  Description  of  adult  and  larval  stages  of  a new 

species  of  Cryptorhopalum  from  Arizona  and  Mexico 
(Coleoptera:  Dermestidae).  Proc.  Entom.  Soc.  Washington, 
77  (2):228-233. 

BLATCHLEY,  W.S.  1910.  An  Illustrated  Descriptive  Catalogue  of 
the  Coleoptera  or  Beetles  (Exclusive  of  the  Rhynchophora) 
Known  to  Occur  in  Indiana  (The  Nature  Publ.  Co.,  Indi- 
anapolis), pp.  1-1386. 

Casey,  Thomas  L.  1900.  Review  of  the  American  Cory- 
lophidae,  Cryptophagidae,  Tritomidae,  and  Dermestidae, 
with  other  studies.  Jour.  New  York  Entom.  Soc.,  8:51-172. 

. 1916.  Some  random  studies  among  the  Clavicomia. 

Memoirs  on  the  Coleoptera,  7:35-292. 

Dalla  Torre,  K.W.  von  1911.  Dermestidae.  Coleopterorum 
Catalogus,  14  (33):39— 96. 

Dillon,  Elizabeth  S.  and  Lawrence  S.  1961.  A Manual  of 
Common  Beetles  of  Eastern  North  America  (Row,  Peterson 
and  Co.,  Evanston,  111.),  pp.  i-viii  + 1-884  + plates 
A-D. 

GuErin-MEneville,  F.E.  1838.  Note  sur  le  genre  de  Coleopteres 
clavicornes,  nomme  par  Latreille  Globicornis,  et  description 
d’une  espece  nouvelle  de  ce  genre.  Revue  Zoologique, 
1:135-139. 

Hatch,  Melville  H.  1962.  The  beetles  of  the  Pacific  North- 
west. Part  III:  Pselaphidae  and  Diversicomia  I.  Univ.  of 
Washington  Pub.  in  Biology,  16:1-503. 

Horn,  George  H.  1894.  The  Coleoptera  of  Baja  California. 
Proc.  Calif.  Acad.  Sci.,  4:302-449. 

Jayne,  Horace  F.  1882.  Revision  of  the  Dermestidae  of  the 
United  States.  Proc.  American  Philos.  Soc.,  20:343-377, 
plates  1-4. 

Kirk,  Vernon  M.  1969.  A list  of  beetles  of  South  Carolina,  Part 
1 — Northern  Coastal  Plain.  South  Carolina  Agric.  Experi- 
ment Sta.,  Tech.  Bull.  1033,  pp.  1-124. 

LeConte,  John  L.  1854.  Synopsis  of  the  Dermestidae  of  the 
United  States.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philadelphia, 
7:106-113. 

. 1862.  New  species  of  Coleoptera  inhabiting  the  Pa- 
cific district  of  the  United  States.  Proc.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
Philadelphia,  1861:338-359. 

Mannerheim,  Carl  G.  von  1843.  Beitrag  zur  Kafer-Fauna  der 
Aleutischen  Inseln,  der  Insel  Sitkha  und  Neu-Califomiens. 
Bull.  Soc.  Imp.  Nat.  Moscou,  16:175-314. 

Mroczkowski,  Maciej  1968.  Distribution  of  the  Dermestidae 
(Coleoptera)  of  the  world  with  a catalogue  of  all  known 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


22 


Beal:  California  Cryptorhopalum 


species.  Ann.  Zool. , Polska  Akademia  Nauk,  26 
(3):  1 5— 191 . 

Rees,  B.E.  1943.  Classification  of  the  Dermestidae  (larder,  hide, 
and  carpet  beetles)  based  on  larval  characters,  with  a key  to 
the  North  American  genera.  U.S.  Dept.  Agric.  Misc.  Pub. 
No.  511,  pp.  1-  18. 


Reitter,  E.  1880  (1881).  Die  aussereuropaischen  Dermestiden 
meiner  Sammlung.  Verh.  Nat.  Ver.  Briinn,  19:27-60. 

Sharp,  David  1902.  Dermestidae.  In  Biologia  Centrali- 
Americana.  Insecta.  Coleoptera,  2 ( 1 ):642—  669,  plate  19. 

Accepted  for  publication  July  8,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  306:1-22. 


JjWj: 


IMirciber  307 
March  16  „ 1979 


NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 

■mil 


A NEW  MONOPLACOPHORAN  LIMPET 


By  James  H . McLean 


MBSSM 

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■ ' i . ' .i 

TOpfelKwjiSiji1! 

118*1 


fit.  , " Til' "I 


I'!  'If. 


51%  Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  ■■  LOS  ANGELES.  CALIFORNIA  $0007. 




IT".  n . 


BiiB  lii 


HH1 

If 


Prior  to  November  30,  1973,  publications  of  the  Natural  History'  Museum  have  appeared  under  various  titles  — Leaflet 
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Printed  in  the  United  States  of  America  by  International  Printing  Services,  Inc. 


Number  307 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


A NEW  MONOPLACOPHORAN  LIMPET 
FROM  THE  CONTINENTAL  SHELF  OFF  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 


By  James  H.  McLean 


J0^  Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Introduction  3 

Supraspecitic  Classification  of  Living  Monoplacophorans  6 

Systematic  Account 

NEOPILINIDAE  Knight  and  Yochelson  1958  9 

Neopilina  Lemche  1957  9 

Verna  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959  9 

Subgenus  Laevipilina  new  subgenus  9 

Verna  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species  11 

Discussion  12 

Size  and  Structure  12 

Habitat  and  Ecology  13 

Radular  Comparisons  15 

Origins  18 

Acknowledgments  18 

Literature  Cited  19 


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3 


A NEW  MONOPLACOPHORAN  LIMPET 
FROM  THE  CONTINENTAL  SHELF  OFF  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA1 

By  James  H.  McLean2 


ABSTRACT:  A new  subgenus  and  species  of  monoplacophoran,  Verna  (Laevipilina)  hyalina,  is  described 
from  specimens  with  a maximum  length  of  2.3  mm  taken  on  rocks  from  depths  between  174-388  m on  the 
Santa  Rosa- Cortes  Ridge  of  the  southern  California  continental  borderland.  The  shell  differs  from  other 
living  neopilinids  in  being  nearly  transparent  and  lacking  clathrate  sculpture.  As  in  the  genus  Verna,  there  are 
six  pairs  of  gills  and  distinct  postoral  tentacles.  Verna,  on  the  basis  of  six  pairs  of  gills  is  here  regarded  as 
genetically  distinct  from  Neopilina,  which  has  five.  On  shell  characters  the  new  subgenus  Laevipilina  differs 
from  Verna  in  lacking  concentric  sculpture  and  in  having  its  structural  prisms  of  a depth  equal  to  their  diameter 
rather  than  twice  the  diameter.  Radular  comparisons  among  neopilinids  are  here  made  for  the  first  time;  the 
radula  of  the  new  species  differs  from  that  of  three  other  neopilinids  in  having  a more  prominent  first  lateral 
tooth.  Verna  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  is  the  first  monoplacophoran  to  be  verified  as  living  on  a rocky  substratum 
and  the  first  to  be  found  at  continental  shelf  depths.  Living  specimens  are  accessible,  suggesting  that  much  will 
soon  be  learned  about  its  anatomy  and  life  history. 


INTRODUCTION 


Until  1952  the  monoplacophoran  limpets  were  known  only 
from  the  Paleozoic  fossils.  On  shell  characters  they  differ  from 
modern  gastropod  limpets  in  having  the  muscle  scar  divided 
metamerically.  Paleontologists  had  regarded  the  fossil  genera  as 
early  patellaceans.  No  advance  was  made  until  1938,  when  Wenz 
(1938:  59)  suggested  that  the  symmetrically  paired  muscle  scars 
of  the  Silurian  genus  Tryblidium  might  correspond  to  the  arrange- 
ment of  muscles  in  chitons.  At  that  point  he  separated  them  from 
the  Patellacea  and  established  the  superfamily  Tryblidiacea  for 
the  group.  Two  years  later  he  developed  his  idea  further  by  con- 
sidering them  to  represent  untorted  gastropods  and  distinguished 
them  from  prosobranch  gastropods  at  the  subclass  level  (Wenz 
1940).  He  was  the  first  to  mention  the  name  Monoplacophora  but 
did  not  use  it  in  a formal  sense,  stating  that  N.  H.  Odhner  had 
suggested  the  name  to  him  (see  Knight,  Lernche,  and  Yochelson, 
1958).  Knight  (1952)  enlarged  upon  Wenz’s  theory  and  used 
Monoplacophora  with  ordinal  rank  equivalent  to  Polyplacophora, 
the  chitons. 

Dramatic  proof  that  monoplacophorans  were  untorted  limpets 
became  available  in  1952  when  a living  species  was  discovered 
by  the  Danish  Galathea  Expedition  at  abyssal  depths  in  the  east- 
ern Pacific  off  Costa  Rica.  The  announcement  of  the  discovery 
took  place  five  years  later  when  the  species  was  described  by 
Lernche  (1957)  as  Neopilina  galatheae.  Its  anatomy  was  thor- 
oughly monographed  by  Lernche  and  Wingstrand  (1959).  Addi- 
tional anecdotes  about  the  original  discovery  were  given  later 
(Lernche  1972). 

Neopilina  is  an  untorted  limpet  with  a posterior  anus  and  seri- 


ally repeated  muscles,  gills,  and  other  organs.  Neopilina  was  the 
most  exciting  malacological  discovery  of  the  century,  a living 
fossil  — a relict  of  a once  diverse  group  of  mollusks.  An  addi- 
tional living  class  of  mollusks  was  recognized,  now  apparently 
surviving  only  in  the  deep  sea. 

Further  finds  of  Neopilina  since  the  original  discovery  proved 
that  living  monoplacophorans  are  more  widely  distributed  than 
was  originally  assumed.  In  recent  years  five  more  species  of 
Neopilina  have  been  described  and  other  records  of  unidentified 
species  have  been  published,  all  found  at  abyssal  or  hadal  depths. 
The  second  described  species,  Neopilina  ewingi  Clarke  and 
Menzies  1959,  from  the  Peru-Chile  Trench,  differed  from  N. 
galatheae  in  having  six  pairs  of  gills  instead  of  the  five  pairs  of 
N.  galatheae.  Because  of  this  difference  it  was  made  the  type 
species  of  the  subgenus  Verna  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959.  Further 
discoveries  brought  the  number  of  described  species  of  Neopilina 
to  a total  of  five  and  those  of  Verna  to  two. 

My  involvement  in  the  study  of  monoplacophorans  began  in 
1966,  when,  in  connection  with  my  interest  in  gastropod  limpets, 
I was  given  the  opportunity  to  work  upon  two  small  specimens  in 
the  S.  Stillman  Berry  Collection.  The  specimens,  not  exceeding 
2.3  mm  in  length,  had  been  taken  on  rocks  snagged  on  hook  and 


‘Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Eugene  V.  Coan 
A.  Myra  Keen 
Robert  J.  Lavenberg 
M.  Patricia  Morse 

2Curator,  Section  of  Malacology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Counts'.  1979.  307:1-19. 


4 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


line  by  a fisherman,  Louis  Zermatten,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
Cortes  Bank,  due  west  of  San  Diego,  California,  in  1965.  One 
was  from  a depth  of  95  fathoms  (174  meters)  and  the  other  from 
125  fathoms  (229  meters).  The  rocks  bearing  the  limpets  were 
saved  for  John  E.  Fitch  of  the  California  Department  of  Fish  and 
Game.  He  removed  the  associated  mollusks  and  gave  them  to  S. 
Stillman  Berry  of  Redlands,  California. 

The  dried  animal  of  the  first  specimen  was  sacrificed  for  a 
radula  preparation.  Initial  study  of  the  radula  (Figs.  20,  21)  sug- 
gested a new  group  in  the  Patellidae,  with  a radula  characterized 
by  a narrow  rachidian,  three  pairs  of  laterals  and  two  pairs  of 
flaring  marginals.  A minute,  deep  water  representative  of  the 
Patellidae,  otherwise  known  from  robust  intertidal  forms,  was 
unexpected,  but  it  seemed  clearly  to  be  the  case,  based  on  the 
radular  evidence.  In  the  hope  that  more  specimens  would  even- 
tually be  found,  I delayed  further  work  on  this  remarkable  find. 
Nine  years  passed  but  no  additional  material  came  to  light. 

In  1975  I again  turned  my  attention  to  the  specimens  on  hand. 
Only  then  did  I closely  examine  the  specimen  that  still  contained 
the  dried  animal.  Through  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  nearly  trans- 
parent shell  I noted  the  circularly  coiled  intestine  that  is  one  of 
the  hallmarks  of  the  described  species  of  Neopilina  (Fig.  1). 
Then  other  monoplacophoran  features  such  as  metamerically 
paired  shell  muscles  and  a posterior  anus  were  observed.  Upon 
rehydrating  the  animal  and  examining  it  in  fluid,  the  shell 


Figure  1.  Vema  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species.  LACM 
19149,  2.16  mm  in  length,  dorsal  view  prior  to  rehydration  of 
the  soft  parts  and  prior  to  removal  of  encrustations  from  the  shell 
surface.  The  anterior  apex  is  visible  near  the  top  and  the  intestine 
with  four  coils  is  seen  through  the  nearly  transparent  shell 
slightly  posterior  to  the  midpoint.  Photograph  by  Solis. 


became  more  transparent  and  its  structural  prisms  visible  (Figs. 
2,  3).  It  thereupon  became  clear  to  me  that  this  was  a mono- 
placophoran limpet.  Contrary  to  all  previous  expectations  for  the 
group,  it  had  come  from  a rocky  substratum  in  relatively  shallow 
water. 

The  rehydration  of  the  specimen  containing  the  dried  animal 
did  not  fully  restore  the  features  of  the  ventral  surface.  Structures 
recognized  were  the  head,  mouth,  velum  extending  laterally  and 
posteriorly  to  the  head,  radiating  pedal  retractor  muscles,  and  the 
posterior  anus.  There  seemed  to  be  no  sign  of  gills  or  of  postoral 
tentacles  that  also  characterize  the  group.  Moreover,  the  true 
shape  of  the  foot  could  not  be  discerned.  It  seemed  that  it  was 
partially  missing  with  nothing  remaining  but  a stump  in  the  cen- 
tral area.  An  S-shaped  structure  that  was  clearly  visible  was 
interpreted  as  the  radular  sac,  considering  that  the  radula 
extracted  from  the  other  specimen  was  more  than  half  the  length 
of  the  shell.  The  shell  appeared  completely  smooth,  devoid  of  all 
traces  of  clathrate  sculpture  seen  in  the  described  species  of  Neo- 
pilina. The  radula  also  seemed  to  differ  considerably  from  that  of 
N.  galatheae , the  only  species  for  which  a radula  had  been  illus- 
trated. 

At  that  point  in  my  studies  I presented  the  preliminary  findings 
to  the  American  Malacological  Union  — Western  Society  of 
Malacologists  joint  meeting  in  San  Diego,  June  1975.  Based  on 
the  smooth  shell,  radular  differences,  and  apparent  absence  of 
gills,  I considered  that  a new  genus  was  indicated  for  the  newly 
discovered  species,  and  so  announced  an  intention  to  propose 
one.  The  abstract  resulting  from  my  presentation  was  published 
30  January  1976  (McLean  1976). 

In  the  fall  of  1975  an  intensive  offshore  sampling  program  was 
initiated  by  the  U.S.  Bureau  of  Land  Management  (BLM)  on  the 
continental  shelf  of  southern  California,  coinciding  with  the  leas- 
ing of  offshore  tracts  for  oil  exploitation.  A group  of  biologists 
headed  by  Gilbert  F.  Jones  of  the  University  of  Southern  Cali- 
fornia contracted  to  do  the  biological  portion  of  the  work. 
Although  most  of  the  stations  were  made  on  soft  bottoms,  there 
were  some  box  core  stations  from  rocky  areas.  Sorters  and  tech- 
nicians were  alerted  to  watch  for  the  new  microscopic  mono- 
placophoran, but  after  six  months  of  sampling  none  were  found. 

Meanwhile,  early  in  1976  I decided  to  publish  my  preliminary 
description  of  the  species  in  the  hope  that  this  notice  would 
stimulate  efforts  to  find  other  specimens.  After  more  closely  scru- 
tinizing the  rehydrated  specimen  with  improved  optics  I noted 
swellings  on  the  mantle  margin  in  the  position  where  gills  could 
be  expected.  Contrary  to  my  earlier  observations,  six  pairs  of 
gills  seemed  to  be  present,  although  no  clear  configuration  could 
be  seen. 

No  radular  descriptions  had  been  published  on  any  mono- 
placophoran species  since  the  initial  monograph  of  Lemche  and 
Wingstrand  (1959).  I was  able  to  obtain  specimens  of  two  other 
neopilinid  species  for  radular  comparisons.  The  results,  discussed 
herein,  indicated  that  the  two  other  species  bridged  the  gap 
between  the  radula  of  the  new  form  and  that  of  N . galatheae. 

Although  many  questions  remained  unanswered,  a draft  of  the 
manuscript  was  completed  and  circulated  for  review.  As  I was 
preparing  to  submit  the  paper  for  publication,  two  freshly  col- 
lected specimens  were  found  in  sediment  from  one  of  the  BLM 
stations.  One  had  been  picked  from  the  residue  by  the  sorters  and 
subsequently  recognized  by  Patrick  I.  LaFollette,  a member  of 
the  BLM  project.  He  reexamined  the  residue  and  found  another. 
This  was  the  breakthrough  I had  hoped  would  occur,  for  I now 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Count y.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


5 


FIGURES  2,  3.  Verna  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species.  LACM  19149,  2.16  mm  in  length,  rehydrated  and  photographed  in  alcohol. 
FIGURE  2,  ventral  view;  FIGURE  3,  dorsal  view.  Shell  prisms  show  at  the  margin,  arranged  in  curved  rows;  lighter  and  darker 
concentric  rings  represent  growth  lines.  Head  with  mouth  near  top  center.  Below  the  head  is  the  S-shaped  radular  sac  and  foot  stump. 
Tubular  rectum  at  bottom  center.  Seven  pairs  of  pedal  retractor  muscles  radiate  from  the  center;  the  first  pair  is  narrow,  the  second,  third, 
fourth  and  fifth  pairs  are  long  and  broad,  the  sixth  and  seventh  pairs  are  short.  Beyond  the  lateral  terminations  of  all  but  the  first  pair  of 
retractor  muscles  are  6 pairs  of  gills  visible  as  swellings  that  blur  the  shell  prisms.  The  dorsal  view  shows  four  dark  coils  to  the  intestine 
in  lower  center.  In  the  dorsal  view,  the  light  areas  encircling  the  central  visceral  area  are  the  terminations  of  the  broad  bands  of  the  pedal 
retractor  muscles.  Gills  represented  by  the  blurred  lighter  areas  between  the  edge  of  the  shell  and  the  pedal  muscle  terminations. 
Photographs  by  Draper. 


had  preserved  specimens  showing  the  true  condition  of  the  foot 
and  the  clear  presence  of  gills  (Figs.  4,  5). 

The  two  fresh  specimens  were  somewhat  smaller  than  the  orig- 
inal two,  with  a maximum  length  of  1 .75  mm.  They  came  from  a 
box  core  station  on  the  Santa  Rosa-Cortes  Ridge  between  San 
Nicolas  and  Tanner  Basins,  at  a depth  of  388  m.  Efforts  to  find 
more  specimens  in  sediment  residues  from  other  unprocessed 
BLM  stations  from  rock  bottoms  were  unsuccessful. 

Publication  of  the  paper  was  withheld  until  I could  learn  more 
about  the  anatomy  of  the  species.  Although  the  specimens  had 
not  been  fixed  for  histologic  sectioning,  it  was  hoped  that  sec- 
tioning would  be  possible.  1 asked  the  help  of  M.  Patricia  Morse 
at  Northeastern  University  in  Nahant,  Massachusetts,  who  along 
with  her  associate,  Nathan  W.  Riser,  had  work  already  underway 
on  Neopilina  ewingi. 

Once  again  the  material  had  limitations  due  to  the  lack  of 
proper  fixation.  Many  sections  made  by  Morse  and  Riser  from 
the  smaller  of  the  two  specimens  did  not  hold  together  and  the 
results  were  disappointing.  However,  they  prepared  the  larger 
specimen  (Figs.  4,  5)  by  critical-point  drying  for  viewing  with  a 
scanning  electron  microscope  (SEM).  That  effort  produced  some 


highly  satisfactory  pictures  on  I I February  1977,  which  are 
reproduced  here  (Figs.  6-8,  11). 

In  February  1977  further  specimens  were  collected  on  a three 
day  cruise  of  the  VELERO  led  by  Heinz  A.  Lowenstam  of  the 
California  Institute  of  Technology,  and  assisted  by  LaFollette, 
now  a member  of  the  Malacology  Section  of  the  Museum.  Ef- 
forts to  recover  the  species  with  rock  dredges  and  box  cores  were 
successful  at  the  same  locality  as  the  earlier  BLM  station.  Six 
living  specimens  attached  to  their  rock  substratum  were  obtained. 
The  animals  survived  for  several  weeks  at  ambient  water  tem- 
peratures (Lowenstam  1977,  abstract).  A report  on  the  behavior, 
ecology,  and  shell  ultrastructure  will  be  published  elsewhere  by 
Lowenstam.  One  of  the  living  specimens  was  fixed  for  histologic 
sectioning  to  be  done  by  Morse  and  Riser,  who  will  also  report 
separately  on  their  results. 

The  rocks  obtained  on  the  cruise  were  examined  aboard  ship 
for  living  specimens  and  then  preserved  in  70%  ethanol.  Further 
examination  of  the  rocks  by  LaFollette  produced  four  more 
specimens  that  became  the  type  lot.  One  of  these  specimens  (Fig. 
9),  designated  the  holotype,  is  in  excellent  condition  and  shows 
most  of  the  features  now  attributed  to  the  species. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Nalur . Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


6 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


FIGURES  4,  5.  Verna  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species.  LACM  19150,  1.75  mm  in  length.  FIGURE  4,  dorsal  view,  showing  the 
regularity  of  the  shell  prisms,  gills  darkly  outlined.  FIGURE  5,  ventral  view,  showing  the  6 pairs  of  gills,  U-shaped  anterior  lip  of  the 
mouth,  the  postoral  tentacles  clearly  visible  between  the  mouth  and  the  foot.  Photographs  by  Morse  and  Riser,  light  microscope,  4 X 
objective. 


Supraspecific  Classification 
of  Living  Monoplacophorans 

The  Monoplacophora  have  been  recognized  as  a separate  class 
of  mollusks  for  a relatively  short  period.  A revised  classification 
of  the  Paleozoic  fossil  representatives  was  given  by  Knight  and 
Yochelson  (1958).  Starobogatov  (1970),  and  more  recently, 
Runnegar  and  Jell  (1976),  have  offered  other  versions.3 

These  classifications  have  been  based  largely  upon  shell  form 
and  the  count  and  configuration  of  muscle  attachment  scars  on 
the  shell.  The  modern  monoplacophorans  have  thin  shells  that 
lack  readily  visible  muscle  scars.  Unfortunately,  details  of  the 
musculature  are  known  only  for  Neopilina  galatheae  as  given  by 
Lemche  and  Wingstrand  (1959).  There  is  therefore  a poor  basis 
upon  which  to  compare  diversity  in  the  living  species  with  the 
considerable  diversity  indicated  in  the  fossil  record. 

When  Lemche  (1957)  proposed  Neopilina  galatheae  he  placed 
it  in  the  family  Tryblidiidae,  a group  otherwise  unknown  since 
the  Devonian.  Knight  and  Yochelson  (1958)  established  the  sub- 
family Neopilininae  for  the  species.  Subsequent  authors  followed 
this  scheme  until  Starobogatov  (1970)  disassociated  the  group 
from  the  Tryblidiacea  altogether  by  recognizing  both  a separate 
family  Neopilinidae  and  superfamily  Neopilinoidea.  However, 
Runnegar  and  Jell  (1976)  retained  Neopilina  in  the  Tryblidiidae. 


A consideration  of  the  overall  classification  of  Monoplaco- 
phora is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  paper;  there  are  evidently 
some  controversial  aspects  that  will  not  readily  be  settled.  Cer- 
tainly a Recent  family  Neopilinidae  may  be  justified  on  grounds 
in  addition  to  the  great  disparity  in  age.  The  shells  of  neopilinids 
are  thin  and  lack  the  massive  development  of  the  nacreous  layer 
of  the  Devonian  Triblidiidae  (Erben,  Flajs  and  Siehl  1968). 

Generic  criteria  within  the  Neopilinidae  are  also  lacking  a 
sound  basis  for  comparison.  Verna  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959, 
type  species  Neopilina  (Verna)  ewingi  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959, 
was  proposed  as  a subgenus  of  Neopilina  chiefly  on  the  presence 
of  six  pairs  of  gills,  rather  than  five  of  Neopilina. 

In  the  18  years  that  have  passed  since  the  first  two  species 
were  proposed,  four  more  species  of  Neopilina  ( Neopilina ) have 
been  described,  along  with  one  more  species  of  Verna.  The  num- 
ber of  gill  pairs  has  proven  to  be  a consistent  character  in  species 
of  each  group  regardless  of  size  or  growth  stage.  The  supplemen- 
tary criteria  for  Verna,  thinner  shell  and  thinner  periostracum. 


3 While  this  paper  was  in  its  final  stage  of  preparation,  I received  a useful 
review  paper  on  the  Recent  monoplacophorans  (Cesari  and  Guidastri 
1976).  The  article,  in  Italian,  contains  an  extensive  bibliography  that 
includes  many  titles  omitted  here.  Also,  an  obituary  of  the  late  Henning 
Lemche  (Knudsen  1977)  includes  references  to  other  papers  by  Lemche 
on  Neopilinia  and  its  affinities. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


7 


Figure  6.  Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species.  LACM 
19150,  1.75  mm  in  length,  critical-point  dried,  SEM  micrograph. 
Lateral  view  of  ventral  surface,  showing  the  6 pairs  of  gills,  the 
anterior  lip  of  mouth,  the  velar  ridge  extending  laterally  around 
the  mouth,  the  ridge  between  the  mouth  and  foot  bearing  the 
postoral  tentacles.  Shrinkage  of  the  body  has  revealed  the  pallia] 
line  midway  in  the  exposed  portion  of  the  shell,  the  nacreous 
layer  on  the  innermost  portion  thick  enough  to  obscure  the  pat- 
tern of  hexagonal  prisms.  X 80. 


Figure  7.  Vema  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species.  LACM 
19150,  length  1.75  mm,  critical-point  dried,  SEM  micrograph. 
Ventral  aspect,  enlargement  of  head  area,  showing  the  U-shaped 
anterior  lip  of  the  mouth,  the  radula  exposed  on  the  odontophore 
within.  Postoral  tentacles  visible  on  the  ridge  below  the  mouth. 
The  velum  is  a narrow  ridge  anterior  to  the  mouth  and  extending 
laterally  on  both  sides.  X 190. 


Figure  8.  Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species. 
LACM  19150,  critical-point  dried,  SEM  micrograph.  Radular 
ribbon  exposed  on  the  odontophore  within  the  mouth  cavity.  This 
is  an  enlargement  of  the  area  visible  in  Figure  7,  oriented  with 
the  anterior  at  the  top  as  in  the  other  figures.  Rachidian  and  lat- 
eral teeth  as  drawn  in  Figure  22.  One  of  the  fringed  first  mar- 
ginals is  fully  exposed,  showing  depth  to  the  comblike  surface. 
X 900. 


have  been  maintained  in  the  second  reported  Vema,  N.  (Vema) 
bacescui  Menzies  1968.  The  two  species  of  Vema  are  known 
only  from  the  southern  hemisphere  in  the  eastern  Pacific,  where- 
as the  species  of  Neopilina  have  been  shown  to  have  a broader 
distribution  in  abyssal  depths  at  the  base  of  the  continental  slope 
in  the  eastern  Pacific  in  both  hemispheres  and  in  the  Indian 
Ocean  and  mid-Pacific. 

Inasmuch  as  the  anatomy  of  Vema  ewingi  has  not  been 
described  in  detail,  there  is  no  sound  basis  upon  which  to  decide 
whether  the  separation  of  the  two  groups  should  be  at  the  sub- 
generic, generic  or  familial  level.  Starobogatov  (1970:301)  stated: 
“Vema  can  hardly  be  regarded  as  a subgenus  of  Neopilina. 
Moreover  it  cannot  be  stated  with  confidence  that  Vema  is  a 
member  of  the  same  family  ...  it  is  in  any  case  appropriate  to 
await  publication  of  detailed  data  on  the  anatomy  of  Vema." 
Nevertheless,  for  a group  in  which  serial  repetition  of  key  struc- 
tures is  fundamental,  other  internal  organs  in  Vema  can  be 
expected  to  have  an  arrangement  differing  from  that  of  Neo- 
pilina. Once  the  results  of  comparative  anatomical  studies  are 
available,  there  will,  in  my  opinion,  be  ample  reasons  to  consider 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mits.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


FIGURE  9.  Verna  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species.  Holotype,  LACM  1787,  1.94  mm  in  length,  preserved  and  photographed  in  alcohol. 
Shell  prisms  show  at  the  margin  on  the  left  side  where  the  pallium  is  lifted  away.  The  pallial  fold  encircles  the  head  area  and  borders  the 
outer  side  of  the  pallial  cavity,  in  which  six  pairs  of  gills  are  visible.  The  anterior  lip  of  the  mouth  is  surrounded  by  the  velum,  which 
extends  laterally  into  the  pallial  cavity.  Between  the  velum  and  the  foot  is  the  ridge  bearing  the  postoral  tentacles.  Foot  with  thickened 
margin,  the  two  posterior  lobes  of  the  gonad  visible  through  the  transparent  sole.  The  opaque  area  at  the  lower  left  is  due  to  an  encrusting 
foraminiferan  on  the  outer  surface  of  the  shell.  Photograph  by  Draper. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Count}’.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


9 


the  two  groups  to  be  generically  distinct.  Although  some  might 
argue  that  it  is  premature  to  make  this  distinction,  it  is  necessary 
to  do  so  in  order  to  recognize  a subgenus  within  the  six-gi lied 
Verna  lineage.  There  is  a major  dichotomy  between  the  abyssally 
occurring  species  with  sculptured  shells  and  the  small,  smooth 
shelled,  more  shallowly  occurring  new  species.  I believe  it  pru- 
dent to  recognize  this  distinction  now  at  the  subgeneric  level. 

The  outline  that  follows  includes  all  of  the  taxa  proposed  to 
date  in  the  Neopilinidae4.  As  more  continues  to  be  learned  about 
the  anatomy  of  the  living  species,  the  diagnoses  can  be  enlarged. 
Uncertainties  now  exist  concerning  the  musculature  and  repeti- 
tion of  internal  structures;  discussion  of  these  characters  is  there- 
fore omitted. 

SYSTEMATIC  ACCOUNT 
NEOPILINIDAE  Knight  and  Yochelson  1958 

NEOPILININAE  Knight  and  Yochelson  1958:39;  Starobogatov  1970:301 
(familial  rank). 

DIAGNOSIS:  Shell  thin,  cap  shaped,  apex  anterior;  shell 
layers  consisting  of  a thin  periostracum,  a dominant  prismatic 
layer,  and  a thin  internal  nacreous  layer.  Eyes  lacking,  mouth 
bordered  anteriorly  by  a velum,  posteriorly  by  postoral  tentacles; 
foot  sole  thin,  weakly  muscularized;  anus  posterior  to  foot;  gills  5 
to  6 pairs,  with  simple  lamellae.  Radula  with  a narrow  rachidian, 
three  pairs  of  laterals  and  two  marginals,  edge  of  first  marginal 
fringed. 

The  family  is  limited  to  the  known  Recent  monoplacophorans. 
It  differs  from  the  Paleozoic  families  in  having  an  extremely  thin 
internal  nacreous  layer  of  the  shell. 

Neopilina  Lemche  1957 

Neopilina  Lemche  1957:414.  Type  species:  N.  galatheae  Lemche  1957. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Shell  with  radial  and  concentric  ridges  at  least  in 
early  stages,  periostracum  moderately  prominent;  gill  pairs  5. 

SPECIES:  N.  galatheae  Lemche  1957  (Costa  Rica);  N.  vel- 
eronis  Menzies  and  Layton  1963  (Baja  California,  Mexico);  N. 
adenensis  Tebble  1967  (Indian  Ocean);  N.  bruuni  Menzies  1968 
(Peru);  N.  oligotropa  Rokop  1972  (mid-Pacific). 

OTHER  RECORDS:  N.  galatheae,  Parker  1962  (off  Cape  San 
Lucas,  Baja  California);  unidentified,  Menzies  1968  (Costa 
Rica);  unidentified.  Rosewater  1970  (South  Atlantic  east  of  Falk- 
land Islands);  unidentified,  Filatova,  Vinogradova  and  Moskalev 
1974  (Atlantic- Antarctic);  same  record  identified  as  N. 
galatheae,  Filatova,  Vinogradova,  and  Moskalev  1975. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Abyssal,  Eastern  Pacific:  Baja  California, 
Costa  Rica,  Peru;  east  of  southern  tip  of  South  America;  mid- 
Pacific;  Indian  Ocean. 

REMARKS:  Of  the  four  species  described,  N.  galatheae  is  the 
only  one  known  from  material  from  other  than  the  type  locality. 
Neopilina  veleronis  was  described  prior  to  the  availability  of 
scanning  electron  microscopy.  No  intact  shells  of  N.  veleronis 
are  extant;  shells  of  the  remaining  paratypes  have  been  altered  by 
the  preservative  (Figs.  14,  15).  Shells  of  the  two  original  speci- 
mens of  N.  oligotropa  were  thought  to  have  been  altered  by  the 
initial  preservative  (Rokop  1972).  Neopilina  veleronis  and  N. 
oligotropa  were  described  from  specimens  not  exceeding  3 mm 
in  length;  N.  veleronis  was  considered  mature  because  ripe  ova 
were  recognized  by  Menzies  and  Layton  (1962);  N.  oligotropa 


was  presumed  mature,  having  come  from  an  oligotropic  or 
food-poor  environment.  Neopilina  adenensis  and  A.  bruuni  were 
described  from  single  specimens,  the  latter  species  briefly  diag- 
nosed but  not  described  in  detail. 

Verna  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959 

Verna  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959:1027.  Type  species:  Neopilina  (Verna) 
ewingi  Clarke  and  Menzies  1959. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Shell  thinner,  periostracum  thinner,  sculpture 
weaker  than  that  of  Neopilina:  gill  pairs  6. 

Subgenus  Vema  s.  str. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Moderate  in  size,  sculptured  with  fine  radial  ribs 
and  raised  concentric  ridges  especially  strong  in  early  stages; 
depth  of  structural  prisms  twice  that  of  surface  diameter.  Gill 
pairs  6,  gill  lamellae  5-7. 

SPECIES:  V.  ewingi  (Clarke  and  Menzies  1959)  (Peru);  V. 
bacescui  (Menzies  1968)  (Peru). 

DISTRIBUTION:  Abyssal,  Pern-Chile  Trench. 

REMARKS:  Vema  ewingi  (Figures  12,  13)  has  been  collected 
at  a number  of  stations  (Menzies  1968;  Meenakshi  et  al.  1970) 
off  Peru,  but  V.  bacescui  is  known  from  a single  station,  the 
original  number  of  specimens  not  mentioned.  The  latter  species 
was  said  to  have  a distinctive  reticulate  pattern  on  the  shell  sur- 
face and  a greater  abundance  of  postoral  tentacles.  Further  com- 
parative details  were  not  given. 

Subgenus  Laevipilina  NEW  SUBGENUS 

Type  species:  Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Small  (under  3 mm  in  length),  lacking  concen- 
tric and  radial  sculpture;  structural  prisms  hexagonal,  uniform  in 
size,  their  depth  equal  to  their  surface  diameter.  Gill  pairs  6,  gill 
lamellae  2-3. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Continental  Shelf,  southern  California. 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  subgeneric  name,  like  that  of  Neopilina, 
is  based  on  Pilina,  a fossil  (Silurian)  monoplacophoran  of  the 
family  Tryblidiidae.  The  prefix  laevi  (from  laevis,  the  Latin 
adjective  for  smooth)  emphasizes  the  unsculptured  surface  of  the 
shell  in  the  new  taxon. 


4One  published  record  may  now  be  removed.  Filatova,  Sokolova  and 
Levenstein  (1968)  and  Filatova  and  Zenkevich  (1969)  reported  finding  a 
monoplacophoran  at  a mid-Pacific  seamount  northwest  of  Hawaii.  The 
apex  was  said  to  be  close  to  the  center  of  the  shell  rather  than  near  its 
anterior  margin  as  in  the  known  species.  It  was  therefore  considered  to 
represent  a new  genus  in  the  Tryblidiidae.  In  response  to  my  inquiry 
about  the  current  status  of  this  specimen,  she  stated  (Filatova,  personal 
communication,  12  July  1976):  “As  to  our  small  specimen  of  Neopilina 
(?)  from  Hawaii  region  it  was  very  young  one  and  it  was  difficult  to 
decide  about  its  true  systematic  position,  especially  for  it  had  the  central 
umbo,  and  it  was  only  a single  specimen." 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mas.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


10 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


Figure  10.  Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species.  LACM 
19149,  length  2.16  mm.  Lateral  profile,  the  anterior  apex  at  the 
right. 


FIGURE  11.  Vema  (Laevipilina)  hyalina  new  species. 
LACM  19150,  SEM  micrograph,  fractured  edge  of  shell.  The 
narrow  band  below  represents  the  periostracum.  From  an  area 
outside  the  pallial  line  and  therefore  lacking  the  internal  nacreous 
layer.  This  shows  the  hexagonal  surface  outline  of  the  prisms  and 
the  depth  approximately  equivalent  to  the  diameter.  X 1100. 


FIGURE  13.  Vema  (Vema)  ewingi.  SEM  micrograph,  fractured 
edge  of  shell  near  the  outer  margin.  Some  of  the  prisms  have  a 
hexagonal  surface,  while  others  are  more  irregular  and  elongate. 
Depth  of  prisms  approximately  twice  the  diameter  of  those  with 
hexagonal  surface.  Compare  with  same  view  of  N.  hyalina  in 
Figure  11,  noting  differences  in  magnifications.  X 240. 


Figure  12.  Vema  (Vema)  ewingi  (Clarke  and  Menzies  1959). 
Anterior  face  of  broken  shell  showing  the  bulbous  apex  at  the 
left;  strong  concentric  and  weaker  radial  sculpture  is  visible  in 
early  growth  stages.  LACM  65-11,  6200  m,  1 10  mi.  W of  Cal- 
lao, Peru,  R/V  ANTON  BRUUN,  24  November  1965.  Photo- 
graph by  Draper.  X 45. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


11 


Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina 

NEW  SPECIES 
Figures  1-11,  20-22 

McLean  1976:60  (abstract,  not  named);  Cesari  and  Guidastrl  1976:235 
(review,  McLean  1976);  Lowenstam  1977:1076  (abstract,  report- 
ing collection  of  living  specimens  of  “a  new  monoplacophoran 
species”). 

DIAGNOSIS:  Vema  hyalina  differs  from  other  6-gilled  neo- 
pilinids  in  its  smaller  size  at  maturity,  lack  of  concentric  and 
radial  shell  sculpture,  shallow  depth  of  the  structural  prisms  and 
reduced  number  of  gill  lamellae. 

SHELL:  Small  (largest  known  specimen  2.3  mm  in  length), 
thin,  transparent,  iridescent;  surface  smooth,  clathrate  sculpture 
lacking.  Periostracum  thin,  visible  as  a yellow  sheen;  prismatic 
layer  thick;  internal  nacreous  layer  thin.  Pallial  line  visible  at 
one-fourth  the  distance  from  the  margin  to  the  center,  inside  of 
which  the  thicker  nacreous  layer  obscures  the  pattern  of  prisms. 
Muscle  scars  not  apparent.  Staictural  prisms  visible  under  mag- 
nification, irregular  in  shape,  usually  hexagonal,  some  pentag- 
onal, not  elongate  on  surface;  depth  of  prisms  approximately 
equal  to  their  diameter;  prisms  arranged  in  concentric  rows  corre- 
sponding to  growth  lines  at  the  shell  margin  and  also  showing  a 
pattern  of  curved  lines  radiating  from  the  mid-dorsal  region.  Base 
of  shell  in  one  plane,  outline  evenly  elliptical,  length  1.2  times 
that  of  width;  maximum  shell  height  anterior  to  mid-point.  Apex 
smoothly  papillate,  positioned  slightly  behind  anterior  margin  at 
half  the  shell  height,  projecting  and  rendering  anterior  face 
slightly  concave.  Apical  area  completely  transparent,  not  show- 
ing defined  structural  prisms,  clear  area  extending  for  approxi- 
mately 10%  of  shell  length. 

EXTERNAL  ANATOMY:  Foot  large,  thin,  oval,  nearly  trans- 
parent, its  base  outlined  by  a thickened  ridge.  Gills  six  pairs;  in 
mature  specimens  the  first  two  pairs  bilobate,  next  four  with 
three  fleshy  fingerlike  lobes;  located  in  pallial  groove  between 
foot  and  pallial  fold.  Pallial  fold  a well-defined  ridge  in  front  of 
head  and  extending  on  sides'  halfway  between  foot  and  shell 
edge,  its  position  corresponding  to  pallial  line  on  shell  interior. 
Pallium  of  thin  mantle  tissue  extending  to  shell  margin  outside  of 
pallial  fold.  Mouth  surrounded  on  front  and  sides  by  thick 
U-shaped  anterior  lip.  Velum  a narrow  ridge  in  front  of  anterior 
lip,  extending  laterally  on  either  side,  terminating  in  large  tri- 
angular flaps  that  extend  into  pallial  groove.  Postoral  tentacles 
located  on  both  ends  of  a ridge  extending  laterally  between 
mouth  and  foot;  tentacles  prominent  and  finely  branched  into  at 
least  six  branches.  Anus  posterior  to  foot,  close  to  mantle  mar- 
gin. 

INTERNAL  ANATOMY:  Gut  coils  four,  visible  through 
transparent  shell,  coils  filling  space  between  midpoint  and  half 
the  distance  to  posterior  edge  of  shell,  final  coil  extending  to 
anus.  Gonad  visible  through  semi-transparent  foot  sole,  divided 
posteriorly  into  two  broad  lobes.  Radula  sac  S-shaped,  prom- 
inent. Pedal  retractor  muscles  tentatively  seven  pairs;  first  pair 
narrow;  second,  third,  fourth,  and  fifth  relatively  broad  and  long; 
sixth  and  seventh  pairs  broad  and  short.  Gills  positioned  just  out- 
side terminations  of  retractor  muscles  on  shell,  terminations  of 
first  pair  of  muscles  without  corresponding  gills. 

RADULA:  Ribbon  of  original  specimen  1.6  mm  long,  about 
70%  of  shell  length,  with  25  rows  of  fully  developed  teeth  and  17 
rows  in  developmental  stages.  Each  inverted  V-shaped  row 
approximately  .08  mm  wide,  containing  a rachidian,  3 pairs  of 


lateral  teeth,  and  2 pairs  of  marginal  teeth.  Rachidian  tooth  long 
and  slender,  four  times  longer  than  wide,  with  a slightly  swollen 
and  overhanging  tip.  Shaft  of  first  lateral  tooth  of  similar  diam- 
eter, its  tip  more  than  twice  the  width  and  with  a smooth  over- 
hanging edge.  Second  lateral  similar  to  the  first,  its  free  end 
nearly  three  times  width  of  the  shaft.  Third  lateral  smaller,  free 
end  about  twice  its  width,  positioned  below  the  second  lateral. 
First  marginal  large,  positioned  well  below  the  lateral  teeth, 
broadly  triangular,  basal  outline  faintly  visible,  free  edge  broadly 
curved  and  finely  fringed;  extending  past  midpoint  of  ribbon  and 
overlapping  with  opposite  tooth,  extending  on  outside  well 
beyond  basal  membrane.  Second  marginal  small,  free  edge 
smooth,  extending  beyond  edge  of  basal  membrane. 

TYPE  MATERIAL:  Holotype,  Los  Angeles  County  Museum 
of  Natural  History  (LACM)  1787,  2 paratypes  LACM  1788,  1 
paratype  National  Museum  of  Natural  History  (USNM)  758556. 
Other  specimens  from  the  vicinity  of  the  type  locality  retained  by 
Heintz  A.  Lowenstan,  California  Institute  of  Technology. 

TYPE  LOCALITY:  Santa  Rosa-Cortes  Ridge  (32°59.0'  N,119° 
32.8'  W),  depth  373-384  m.  Collected  by  Heinz  A.  Lowenstan 
and  Patrick  I.  LaFollette,  R/V  Velero  IV  sta.  25765,  14  February 
1977. 

ADDITIONAL  RECORDS: 

1)  LACM  19148,  radula  slide  (Figs.  20-22)  and  shell  frag- 
ments on  SEM  stub.  One  specimen.  95  fm  (174  m),  between 
Cortes  and  Tanner  Banks,  California  (32°  41 ' N,  119°  17.3'  W), 
February  1965,  collected  by  Louis  Zermatten,  ex  S.  S.  Berry 
Collection,  no.  33351  Shell  used  for  SEM  analysis  by  Lowen- 
stam. 

2)  LACM  19149,  rehydrated  specimen  (Figs.  1-3).  One 
specimen,  125  fm  (229  m),  Cortes  Bank,  California  (32°  25.8' 
N,  119°  13.5'  W),  April  1965,  collected  by  Zermatten,  ex  Berry 
Collection  no.  33333.  Specimens  from  these  two  localities  were 
attached  to  rocks  brought  up  by  hook  and  line;  the  hooks  had 
been  snagged  in  bore  holes  made  by  pholad  bivalves.  The  dried 
specimens  were  removed  by  John  E.  Fitch  and  given  to  Berry. 
Coordinates  were  supplied  by  Fitch  in  1976  after  consulting  with 
Zermatten.  Both  localities  were  productive  fishing  sites  for  the 
red  rock  cod  Sebastes  miniatus  and  were  regularly  fished  by 
Zermatten. 

3)  LACM  19150,  scanned  specimen  (Figs.  4-8,  11).  Two 
specimens,  388  m,  Santa  Rosa-Cortes  Ridge,  California  (32° 
58.85'  N,  119°  33.05'  W),  1 May  1976,  R/V  VELERO  IV  sta. 
24904,  BLM  sta.  569  (Figure  16,  bottom  photograph).  This  was 
the  first  record  of  the  species  at  the  type  locality.  The  specimens 
were  found  in  the  alcohol-preserved  rock  and  gravel  residue  by 
LaFollette.  One  specimen  was  used  in  an  attempt  at  sectioning  by 
Morse  and  Riser,  the  other  remaining  specimen  was  critical-point 
dried  and  examined  with  SEM. 


DIMENSIONS: 


length 

width 

height 

LACM  1787  (holotype) 

1.94 

1.62 

0.55 

LACM  1788a  (paratype) 

1.54 

1.22 

0.41 

LACM  1788b  (paratype) 

0.81 

0.66 

0.26 

USNM  758556  (paratype) 

1.94 

1.62 

0.59 

LACM  19148  (radula) 

2.16 

1.70 

0.70 

LACM  19149  (rehydrated) 

2.28 

1.93 

0.64 

LACM  19150  (scanned) 

1.75 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  specific 

name  is  an 

adjective 

based  on 

the  Greek  noun  hyalos  (glass),  to  denote  the  glassy,  transparent 
nature  of  the  shell. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Nolur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


12 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


DISCUSSION 

The  discovery  of  a monoplacophoran  living  at  a depth  consid- 
ered to  be  the  approximate  boundary  between  the  continental 
shelf  and  the  continental  slope  is  remarkable  and  unanticipated  on 
the  basis  of  previous  knowledge  of  living  monoplacophorans. 

Prior  to  the  discovery  of  this  species,  there  had  been  none  of 
the  abyssal  species  recovered  alive,  nor  had  it  been  possible  to 
obtain  specimens  without  the  use  of  an  oceanographic  vessel 
capable  of  trawling  in  great  depths.  Now,  20  years  following  the 
announcement  that  a group  of  moliusks  supposed  extinct  in  the 
early  Paleozoic  survives  today,  it  is  possible  to  obtain  living 
specimens  and  observe  them  under  laboratory  conditions. 

Verna  hyalina  is  small  and  therefore  is  not  an  ideal  laboratory 
animal.  Nevertheless,  interest  in  the  species  should  enable  future 
investigators  to  surmount  the  inherent  difficulties. 

Size  and  Structure 

The  maximum  length  known  for  the  species  is  2.3  mm.  A suf- 
ficient number  of  specimens  are  known  of  less  than  that  size,  so 
that  it  now  seems  unlikely  that  larger  ones  will  be  found.  The 
sectioned  specimen,  which  measured  1.6  mm  in  length,  showed 
mature  sperm  and  was  therefore  considered  sexually  mature. 


Shells  of  Verna  hyalina  have  a mature  look;  they  do  not  have  a 
disproportionately  large  apical  area  as  would  be  the  case  with 
immature  specimens.  The  shell  structure  is  so  fragile  that  larger 
specimens  would  be  unlikely. 

Verna  hyalina,  the  third  species  of  Verna  to  be  described,  is  the 
smallest  of  the  genus,  being  about  one-tenth  the  size  of  the 
others.  Two  small-shelled  species  of  Neopilina  s.  str.  are  known: 
A.  veleronis  and  A.  oligotropa.  That  A.  veleronis  (Figs.  14,  15) 
was  described  from  mature  specimens  is  reasonably  certain  from 
the  fact  that  mature  ova  were  observed  in  histologic  sections,  as 
noted  in  the  original  account  of  the  species.  Neopilina  oligotropa 
was  considered  likely  to  be  mature  because  it  came  from  a mid- 
ocean environment  with  limited  food  sources.  The  other  asso- 
ciated fauna  was  represented  by  similarly  small  forms.  Size  dif- 
ferences of  this  magnitude  within  genera  are  somewhat  unusual 
in  moliusks,  but  are  not  unknown. 

The  lack  of  surface  shell  sculpture  distinguishes  Vema  (Laevi- 
pilina)  hyalina  from  other  described  neopilinids.  The  shells  of  all 
the  other  species  are  reinforced,  at  least  in  their  young  stages,  by 
concentric  and  radial  sculpture,  which  strengthens  without  greatly 
increasing  weight  or  bulk.  Although  all  neopilinid  shells  are  thin 
and  fragile,  they  apparently  provide  sufficient  support  for  the 
moderately  large  species  (A.  galatheae  reaches  37  mm  in  length) 
living  at  abyssal  depths  where  the  physical  conditions  are  rela- 


Figures  14,  15.  Neopilina  veleronis  Menzies  and  Layton,  length  2.1  mm.  Recent  photographs  of  holotype  in  alcohol.  FIGURE  14, 
dorsal  view.  FIGURE  15,  ventral  view.  The  anterior  apex  is  at  the  top.  Five  coils  of  the  intestine  are  visible  through  the  translucent  shell. 
The  shell  is  now  considerably  decalcified;  the  visible  nodular  structures  that  remain  are  the  intersections  of  the  radial  and  concentric 
sculpture.  Photographs  by  Draper. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


13 


tively  stable.  A shallow  water  counterpart  would  be  expected  to 
have  a stronger  shell,  one  better  suited  to  an  environment  in 
which  physical  stresses  are  greater.  The  habitat  of  V.  hyalina  at 
the  edge  of  the  continental  shelf  is  more  variable  than  that  of  the 
deep  sea  but  is  far  less  rigorous  than  that  of  intertidal  or  sublit- 
toral zones.  Verna  hyalina  has,  however,  the  most  fragile  shell  of 
any  of  the  species.  Its  existence  in  a somewhat  more  variable 
environment  seems  to  be  at  the  cost  of  a major  reduction  in  size. 

Shell  structure  of  Verna  hyalina  follows  the  basic  neopilinid 
plan,  summarized  most  recently  by  Meenakshi  et  al.  (1970). 
Present  are  the  periostracum,  prismatic,  and  nacreous  layers.  The 
periostracum  is  extremely  thin.  The  prismatic  layer  forms  the 
major  component  of  the  shell,  with  the  diameter  and  depth  of  the 
prisms  nearly  equal.  In  Verna  ewingi  (Figs.  12,  13)  there  are 
hexagonal  prisms  and  also  some  prisms  with  a more  elongate, 
surface.  The  depth  of  the  prisms  in  V.  ewingi  seems  to  be  about 
twice  the  diameter  at  the  surface  of  the  regular  hexagonal  prisms. 
In  V.  ewingi  there  are  also  some  prisms  with  surface  area  smaller 
than  in  the  regular  hexagons.  Small  prisms  are  not  found  in  V. 
hyalina.  These  differences  are  regarded  as  more  than  specific  dif- 
ferences between  the  two  species  of  Venia;  the  differences  are 
regarded  as  supraspecffically  diagnostic  of  the  subgenera  Venia 
and  Laevipilina. 

The  internal  nacreous  layer  of  neopilinids  is  very  thin  (Meen- 
akshi et  al.  1970:21 1)  and  this  is  also  true  for  V.  hyalina.  Shells 
of  V.  hyalina  show  a pallial  line  corresponding  to  the  position  of 
the  pallial  fold  of  the  mantle,  inside  of  which  the  nacreous  layer 
is  thick  enough  to  slightly  obscure  the  pattern  of  prisms  when 
viewed  from  within. 

The  early  developmental  stages  in  neopilinid  monoplaco- 
phorans  are  largely  unknown.  Lemche  and  Wingstrand  (1959:16, 
64,  figs.  34,  49)  described  and  illustrated  a coiled  protoconch  for 
Neopilina  galaiheae.  No  subsequent  author  has  reported  a coiled 
protoconch  in  other  specimens  of  N.  galatheae  or  any  other 
species.  Menzies  (1968:7,  figs.  8a-d)  illustrated  an  unidentified 
juvenile  Neopilina  shell,  showing  a bulbous,  transparent  proto- 
conch with  an  abrupt  transition  to  the  adjacent  shell  area,  which 
is  structured  with  prisms  that  are  elongate  on  the  surface.  As 
discussed  by  Menzies,  the  loss  of  such  a protoconch  and  subse- 
quent repair  to  the  area  would  produce  a circular  scar  like  that 
originally  reported  by  Clarke  and  Menzies  (1959:  fig.  Id)  at  the 
apex  of  V.  ewingi.  The  apical  profile  of  V.  hyalina  (Fig.  10)  is 
similar  to  that  of  the  unidentified  species  illustrated  by  Menzies 
(1968:  fig.  8c),  and  it  is  possible  that  the  protoconch  is  missing 
and  the  area  sealed  over.  However,  in  V.  hyalina  there  is  no 
sharp  transition  line  between  the  apical  tip  and  the  area  where 
prismatic  structure  begins;  the  prismatic  structure  becomes  appar- 
ent, faintly  at  first,  some  distance  away  from  the  apex.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  future  workers  will  investigate  the  early  development 
of  the  species. 

Habitat  and  Ecology 

The  localities  known  for  Verna  hyalina  are  on  the  western  edge 
of  the  “southern  California  continental  borderland”  (see  Emery 
1960).  Unlike  continental  shelves  in  most  other  areas  of  the 
world,  the  submarine  topography  is  complex,  with  high  and  low 
areas,  and  ridges  and  troughs  running  roughly  parallel  to  the 
adjacent  land  mass  and  its  mountain  ranges.  Some  of  the  topo- 
graphic highs  form  islands,  others  form  shallow  banks,  and  the 
lows  form  a number  of  deep,  closed  basins.  Patterns  of  currents 


at  the  surface  and  at  intermediate  depths  are  complex.  The  locali- 
ties known  for  V.  hyalina  are  on  the  Santa  Rosa-Cortes  Ridge,  a 
submarine  range  that  includes  Santa  Rosa  Island,  Begg  Rock, 
San  Nicolas  Island,  Tanner  Bank  and  Cortes  Bank.  East  of  the 
area  is  the  San  Nicolas  Basin,  to  the  south  are  the  East  and  West 
Cortes  Basins  and  to  the  west  the  Tanner  Basin.  Further  to  the 
west  is  another  ridge  of  lesser  elevation  and  beyond  that  is  the 
Patton  Escarpment,  a steep  mud  slope  that  drops  to  abyssal 
depths. 

Bottom  temperatures  at  continental  shelf  depths  in  southern 
California  vary  but  little  throughout  the  year.  Joseph  L.  Reid  of 
the  Scripps  Institution  of  Oceanography  informs  me  that  at  a 
depth  of  400  m at  positions  near  the  type  locality  the  estimated 
range  of  temperatures  is  6.4°  to  7.5°  C,  based  on  data  of  the 
California  Cooperative  Oceanic  Fisheries  Investigations,  summa- 
rized in  data  reports  from  Scripps  Institution.  The  shallowest  of 
the  original  records  for  the  species  was  174  m.  Temperatures  at 
200  m in  southern  California  are  in  the  vicinity  of  8°  to  9°  C 
(Emery  1969:  98).  The  known  bathymetric  range  for  Verna 
hyalina  is  174  to  388  m;  bottom  temperatures  correspondingly 
range  from  a maximum  of  9°  to  a low  of  6.4°  C. 

It  is  unlikely  that  the  species  will  be  found  at  shallower  depths, 
considering  the  extent  to  which  sampling  at  shallow  depths  has 
been  done  in  southern  California.  However,  the  lower  limit  of  the 
bathymetric  range  is  unknown;  we  may  have  sampled  only  the 
upper  limits  of  the  species’  bathymetric  range.  The  scarcity  of 
rocky  substrata  at  greater  depths  may  well  be  the  limiting  factor. 

There  is  considerable  information  available  on  the  bottom  con- 
ditions at  the  type  locality.  When  the  first  two  specimens  from 
the  type  locality  were  collected  on  1 May  1976  the  station  was 
sampled  with  a box  core  and  the  bottom  was  photographed  just 
before  the  sample  was  taken  (Fig.  16).  Bottom  conditions  were 
recorded  as  follows:  “Smooth  bottom  with  pebbles  and  small 
rocks,  sparse  shell  debris.”  The  photograph  shows  small  rocks 
somewhat  obscured  by  fine  sediment  and  some  moderately  large 
invertebrates,  including  the  seastar  Rathbunaster  californicus, 
another  seastar,  the  echinoid  Allocentrotus  fragilis.  a gorgonian, 
a massive  sponge,  and  brittle  stars.  Rocks  from  the  station  are  of 
moderately  hard  shale  and  were  partially  encrusted  with  several 
different  species  of  bryozoans.  The  chiton  Hanley e Ha  oldroydi 
was  common. 

The  species  composition  is  therefore  diverse  and  includes  mol- 
luscan  predators  such  as  seastars  and  muricid  gastropods  ( Boreo - 
trophon  spp.)  that  bore  through  shells.  Venia  hyalina  must  have 
some  methods  enabling  defense  against  predators,  whether  it  be  a 
rapid  escape  response  as  used  by  many  shallowly  occurring  lim- 
pets, or  seclusion  in  deep  crevices.  Study  of  living  animals 
should  answer  these  questions. 

The  histologic  sectioning  by  Morse  and  Riser  of  one  of  the 
specimens  showed  the  presence  of  diatom  frustules  and  sponge 
spicules  in  the  gut,  suggesting  that  the  species  browses  upon  the 
detrital  material  that  accumulates  in  crevices.  For  neopilinids 
from  abyssal  depths,  Menzies  et  al.  (1959:179)  reported  that:  “A 
fecal  pellet  removed  from  the  hindgut  of  a specimen  of  Neopilina 
(Verna)  showed  the  presence  of  diatom  frustules,  radiolarian 
skeletons,  pelagic  foraminiferal  tests  and  innumerable  bacteria-size 
particles  as  well  as  sponge  spicules.  This  evidence  suggests  that 
Neopilina  is  a mud-ingesting  animal  or  at  least  an  unselective 
detritus  feeder.”  Thus  the  feeding  habits  of  all  modern  neo- 
pilinids are  probably  similar.  This  is  also  suggested  by  the  simi- 
larity of  radular  structure  among  the  neopilinids,  as  discussed  in 


Contrih.  Sei.  Nalur.  Hist.  Mus.  Las  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


14 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


FIGURE  16.  Bottom  photograph  near  type  locality  taken  just  before  sampling  with  box  core.  Depth  388  m,  Santa  Rosa-  Cortes  Ridge,  California 
(32°  58.85'  N,  1 19°  33.05'  W),  1 May  1976,  R/V  VELERO IV  sta.  24904,  BLM  sta.  569.  Bottom  consists  of  small  rocks  obscured  by  sediment. 
See  text  for  description  of  the  invertebrates  pictured.  Photograph  courtesy  of  Gilbert  F.  Jones,  BLM  project. 


detail  below.  The  neopilinid  radula  has  a feathery  appearance, 
and  is  not  sufficiently  robust  to  enable  feeding  by  rasping  or 
piercing  of  prey  organisms. 

Verna  hyalina  is  the  first  neopilinid  definitely  known  to  be 
associated  with  a hard  substratum.  The  first  described  species  of 
Neopilina  and  Verna  were  assumed  to  be  free  living  on  soft  bot- 
toms of  ooze  on  the  abyssal  sea  floor.  No  rocks  or  hard-surfaced 
objects  were  reported  in  dredge  hauls.  Menzies,  Ewing,  Worzel, 
and  Clarke  (1959)  included  bottom  photographs  of  tracks  pre- 
sumed made  by  Neopilina,  but  this  observation  was  later  ques- 
tioned by  Wolff  (1961),  who  suggested  that  the  tracks  were  made 
by  a bivalve.  No  photographs  are  yet  available  that  actually 
reveal  the  life  mode  of  any  of  the  abyssal  species  of  Neopilina  or 
Vema. 

Not  until  1972  with  the  description  of  N.  oligotropa  was  the 
availability  of  hard  substratum  documented  along  with  the  taking 
of  a neopilinid.  Rokop  (1972)  reported  the  presence  of  man- 
ganese nodules  in  the  vicinity  of  N.  oligotropa  but  had  no  evi- 


dence to  suggest  that  the  species  was  attached  to  the  nodules.  In 
1974  Filatova  et  al.  reported  that  their  unidentified  Neopilina 
from  the  Atlantic  sector  of  the  Antarctic  came  from  a bottom  of 
mud  with  sand  and  pebbles.  They  considered  it  a foregone  con- 
clusion that  all  Neopilina  require  a hard  substratum:  “The  hard 
substratum  to  which  Neopilina  adheres  (stones,  manganese  nod- 
ules or  pebbles)  is  dispersed  in  good  quantity  in  the  Antarctic 
region  by  the  action  of  floating  ice.’’ 

Doubts  about  the  habitat  of  the  abyssally  occurring  species  of 
Neopilina  will  persist  until  some  way  is  found  to  photograph  or 
observe  living  specimens.  In  view  of  the  apparent  absence  of 
hard  surfaces  in  the  abyssal  depths  off  Costa  Rica  (type  locality 
of  N.  galatheae),  in  the  Peru-Chile  Trench  (type  localities  of  V. 
ewingi,  V.  bacescui,  and  A.  bruuni ) and  in  the  Cedros  Trench  off 
Baja  California,  Mexico  (type  locality  of  N.  veleronis),  it  seems 
to  me  that  the  weight  of  evidence  would  associate  the  abyssal 
species  with  soft  bottoms. 

Yet  this  remains  an  anomaly  because  all  other  limpets  (gastro- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mas.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


15 


pods  of  several  families)  are,  without  exception,  attached  to  hard 
surfaces.  However,  the  foot  of  Neopilina  is  somewhat  unusual 
compared  to  that  of  gastropod  limpets.  Lemche  and  Wingstrand 
(1959:31)  prefaced  their  detailed  description  of  the  foot  of  N. 
galatheae  as  follows: 

“The  circular  foot  occupies  the  central  parts  of  the 
ventral  side  of  the  animal.  Being  strongly  contracted 
in  the  preserved  specimens,  its  diameter  is  about 
half  that  of  the  shell.  For  descriptive  purposes  the 
foot  is  here  regarded  as  the  central  body  wall  under- 
lying the  large  peri-intestinal  blood  sinus.  Its  central 
part  forms  a circular  membraneous  disc,  which,  at 
places,  is  little  more  than  0.1  mm  thick  and  there- 
fore somewhat  transparent  even  in  the  preserved 
material.  The  periphery  of  the  foot  is  developed  as  a 
prominent  muscular  foot  margin  all  round  the 
organ.” 

Thus  the  foot  of  Neopilina  is  characterized  by  its  small  diam- 
eter, extremely  thin  sole,  and  highly  muscularized  margin. 
Lemche  (1957)  had  originally  postulated  that  N.  galatheae  lived 
upside  down,  but  that  idea  was  immediately  challenged  by  Yonge 
(1957),  who  considered  it  possible  that  the  foot  could  indeed  be 
too  weakly  muscularized  for  creeping  on  a hard  surface,  but  that 
it  could  prevent  the  animal  from  sinking  into  the  bottom  ooze. 
Clarke  and  Menzies  (1959)  reported  that  the  original  specimens 
of  V.  ewingi  were  coated  with  mucus  on  the  ventral  surface  and 
this  was  considered  to  function  as  an  aid  to  locomotion  on  soft 
bottoms. 

Perhaps  the  forthcoming  histological  work  with  V . hyalina  will 
yield  some  insight.  If  the  foot  of  V.  hyalina  proves  to  be  more 
highly  muscularized  than  that  of  the  other  species,  it  will  suggest 
that  the  other  species  are  adapted  for  existence  on  soft  bottoms, 
whereas  V.  hyalina  is  better  adapted  to  adhere  to  rocks. 

Radular  Comparisons 

The  neopilinid  radula  has  not  been  discussed  since  the  original 
treatment  by  Lemche  and  Wingstrand  (1959:27,  fig.  88)  of  Neo- 
pilina galatheae.  Subsequent  authors  have  apparently  been  hesi- 
tant to  sacrifice  part  of  their  material  for  whole-mount  radular 
studies.  The  radula  of  V.  hyalina  differs  considerably  from  that 
of  N.  galatheae.  although  the  basic  plan  is  similar.  In  order  to 
make  further  comparisons  I prepared  slides  from  a single  speci- 
men of  V.  ewingi  in  the  LACM  collection  and  a paratype  of  N. 
veleronis  from  the  Hancock  Collection.  Because  of  the  scarcity 
of  material  of  all  species,  I had  had  to  base  my  observations  on 
single  specimens  of  each,  using  standard  whole  mounting  meth- 
ods. Future  studies  should  use  SEM  with  its  much  finer  resolu- 
tion and  depth  of  field. 

The  neopilinid  radula  consists  of  a narrow  rachidian  and  five 
pairs  of  additional  teeth  arranged  in  an  inverted  V-shaped  row 
across  the  ribbon.  Lemche  and  Wingstrand  called  all  five  pairs 
lateral  teeth  but  gave  no  reasons  for  doing  so.  I regard  the  inner- 
most three  pairs  as  lateral  teeth  and  the  outer  two  pairs  as  mar- 
ginal teeth  for  two  reasons:  (1)  the  fourth  tooth,  here  called  the 
first  marginal,  has  a fringed  edge  unlike  that  of  the  preceding 
laterals;  (2)  the  marginals  did  not  stain  as  darkly  as  the  laterals  in 
my  preparations  using  stained,  non-resinous  mounting  medium, 
suggesting  that  the  marginals  differ  from  the  laterals  in  thickness 
and  composition. 


Figure  25  herein  is  redrawn  from  Lemche  and  Wingstrand’s 
illustration  of  the  radula  of  Neopilina  galatheae.  The  rachidian 
tooth  is  slender,  with  no  overhanging  cusp,  resembling  the 
reduced,  vestigial  central  tooth  of  some  Patellidae.  The  first  lat- 
eral tooth  is  only  slightly  larger,  and  has  a blunt,  overhanging 
edge.  The  second  lateral  is  longer  and  broader,  with  a broad 
overhanging  edge;  and  the  third  is  similar  but  placed  considerably 
below  the  first.  The  next  tooth,  here  called  the  first  marginal, 
was  described  as  a “membranous  tooth”  or  “comb  tooth,”  with 
its  overhanging  edge  “slit  up  into  some  40  long  and  curved  den- 
ticles pointing  aborally.”  The  final  tooth,  here  called  the  second 
marginal,  is  triangular  and  projects  beyond  the  edge  of  the  rib- 
bon. It  has  a narrow,  overhanging  edge. 

The  radula  of  Verna  ewingi  (Figs.  17,  18,  23)  differs  from  that 
of  N.  galatheae  in  minor  ways.  One  portion  of  the  ribbon  (Fig. 
17)  was  stained  and  mounted  in  non-resinous  medium  after  slight 
treatment  with  NaOH  in  an  effort  to  clean  it.  The  teeth  remained 
aligned  as  in  figure  17.  Further  cleaning  was  attempted  on  an- 
other portion  of  the  ribbon,  but  the  teeth  folded  over  in  the  result- 
ing mount  (Fig.  18),  suggesting  that  the  teeth  are  more  delicate 
than  those  of  various  gastropod  radular  ribbons  with  which  I am 
familiar.  However,  the  latter  preparation  does  show  the  teeth  in 
side  view.  In  V.  ewingi,  as  in  N . galatheae,  the  first  lateral  is 
small,  although  somewhat  larger  than  the  central  tooth.  The  most 
significant  difference  is  that  the  second  lateral  of  V.  ewingi 
extends  well  above  the  position  of  the  first  lateral,  rather  than  to 
approximately  the  same  level.  The  second  and  third  laterals  seem 
to  be  longer  than  those  of  N.  galatheae,  and  show  an  overhang- 
ing tip  when  viewed  in  the  aligned  position,  whereas  in  side  view 
they  are  shown  to  be  long  and  evenly  curved  (Fig.  18).  It  is 
possible  that  Lemche  and  Wingstrand  missed  the  overhanging  tip 
in  their  drawing  of  N.  galatheae;  the  second  and  third  lateral 
teeth  might  therefore  be  larger  than  they  indicated.  The  fringed 
first  marginal  of  V.  ewingi  resembles  that  of  N.  galatheae  and  the 
second  marginal  is  similar,  except  that  its  outer  edge  is  thicker. 

I had  difficulty  interpreting  the  radula  of  the  only  small-sized 
species  of  Neopilina  available,  N.  veleronis,  because  I was 
unable  to  mount  in  an  aligned  position  any  of  five  separate  pieces 
of  the  ribbon.  Here  again,  this  may  indicate  that  neopilinid  rad- 
ulae  are  more  fragile  than  gastropod  radulae  of  similar  size. 
However,  all  of  the  teeth  may  be  recognized  in  the  portion 
photographed  (Fig.  19),  even  though  the  rachidian  and  the 
fringed  first  marginal  are  not  clearly  shown.  In  N.  veleronis  (Fig. 
24)  the  first  lateral  is  more  prominent  than  in  either  N.  gala- 
theae or  V.  ewingi,  and  extends  slightly  above  the  position  of 
the  rachidian.  In  addition,  the  fringed  first  marginal  is  broader 
than  in  either  N.  galatheae  or  V.  ewingi.  These  differences  place 
the  radula  of  N.  veleronis  closer  to  that  of  V.  hyalina  than  to  that 
of  the  two  relatively  large-sized  neopilinids.  However,  the  sec- 
ond marginal  is  more  than  twice  as  long  as  that  in  any  of  the 
other  species.  Neopilina  veleronis  is  unique  among  the  species 
studied  in  the  length  of  the  second  marginal. 

A detailed  description  of  the  radula  of  V.  hyalina  is  included  in 
the  species  description  above.  The  whole- mounted  ribbon  of  the 
original  specimen  is  shown  in  figure  20,  focused  on  the  shaft  of 
the  lateral  teeth,  and  in  figure  21,  focused  on  the  fringed  edge  of 
the  first  marginal.  The  teeth  are  drawn  in  figure  22.  After  the 
drawings  were  finished  I received  an  SEM  view  of  the  radula  in 
place  within  the  mouth  cavity  (Fig.  8).  The  radula  differs  from 
that  of  both  A.  galatheae  and  V.  ewingi  in  having  the  first  lateral 
fully  developed  and  about  equal  in  size  to  the  second  lateral, 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


16 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


Figures  17-21.  Neopilinid  radular  ribbons,  magnifications  adjusted  to  show  a similar  number  of  teeth  rows.  FIGURE  17,  Vema  (Verna) 
ewingi,  intact  ribbon  with  teeth  aligned  (LACM  65  — 11,  6200  m,  110  mi.  W of  Callao,  Pern,  R/V  ANTON  BRUUN,  24  November 
1965).  FIGURE  18,  Vema  (Vema)  ewingi,  another  portion  of  same  ribbon  with  lateral  teeth  turned  to  the  side.  FIGURE  19,  Neopilina 
veleronis,  intact  ribbon  of  paratype,  teeth  not  aligned  (AHF  603,  2730-2769  m,  30  mi.  W of  Natividad  Island,  Baja  California,  Mexico). 
FIGURE  20,  Vema  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina  new  species,  intact  ribbon  with  teeth  aligned,  focused  on  shafts  of  lateral  teeth  (LACM  19148). 
FIGURE  21,  Vema  (Laevipilina)  hyalina,  same  ribbon,  focused  on  fringe  of  first  marginal  teeth. 


instead  of  the  highly  reduced  condition  in  these  two  species.  Al- 
though the  first  lateral  of  N . veleronis  is  somewhat  larger  than  it 
is  in  the  other  two  species,  that  of  V.  hyalina  is  still  the  larger. 
The  fringed  first  marginal  of  V.  hyalina  is  much  broader  than  in 
N.  veleronis.  Only  in  V.  hyalina  is  the  fringed  tooth  so  broad  that 
it  overlaps  the  opposite  member  in  the  central  part  of  the  ribbon. 
The  second  and  third  laterals  of  V.  hyalina  are  not  significantly 
different  from  those  of  the  other  three  species,  whereas  the  sec- 
ond marginal  is  similar  to  those  of  N.  galatheae  and  V.  ewingi, 
but  not  the  exceptionally  long  second  marginal  of  N.  veleronis. 

To  summarize  the  radular  differences  noted  among  the  four 
species:  Vema  hyalina  exhibits  major  differences  in  two  of  the 
five  teeth  compared  to  the  two  rather  similar  species  N.  galatheae 
and  V.  ewingi,  whereas  the  condition  of  these  two  teeth  in  N. 
veleronis  is  intermediate  between  these  two  species  and  V. 
hyalina.  The  radula  of  N.  veleronis  is  unique  in  the  extreme 
elongation  of  the  second  marginal. 

The  radular  differences  noted  in  the  four  species  do  not  corre- 
late with  the  existing  generic  division  based  on  number  of  gill 
pairs,  five  in  Neopilina  and  six  in  Vema.  The  only  correlation  is 
in  size.  Both  large-sized  species  have  similar  teeth  and  the  two 


small-sized  species  have  similar  teeth.  Radular  differences  among 
the  species  examined  are  quantitative  rather  than  qualitative,  sup- 
porting placement  of  the  four  species  in  the  same  family.  A study 
of  the  radulae  of  the  other  three  living  species  of  neopilinids 
should  reveal  further  specific  differences. 

The  radula  of  neopilinid  monoplacophorans  is  very  similar  to 
that  of  chitons  and  patellacean  limpets  having  the  docoglossate 
radula.  In  the  three  groups  the  radula  has  in  common:  a reduced 
or  absent  rachidian;  strong,  hook-shaped  lateral  teeth;  and  few, 
weakly  developed  marginal  teeth.  Lemche  and  Wingstrand 
(1959)  found  major  similarities  in  the  radular  supportive  mech- 
anism in  Neopilina  and  chitons.  Golikov  and  Starobogatov 
(1975)  discusssed  the  similarities  in  form  and  function  of  the 
docoglossate  radula  with  that  of  chitons  and  neopilinids. 

The  docoglossate  radula  has  long  been  known  to  function  in  a 
way  that  differs  from  that  of  other  gastropods.  Fretter  and 
Graham  (1962:200)  gave  a detailed  comparison  of  radular  func- 
tion in  the  two  kinds  of  radulas.  In  the  docoglossate  radula  there 
is  no  longitudinal  bending;  the  entire  ribbon  works  as  a rasp  with 
numerous  rows  functioning  at  once.  In  the  rhipidoglossate  and 
other  non-docoglossate  radulae,  rows  of  teeth  bend  longitudinally 


Figures  22-25.  Radular  dentition  of  neopilinids,  drawn  from  slides  photographed  in  figures  17-21.  FIGURE  22,  Vema  (Laevipilina) 
hyalina  new  species.  FIGURE  23,  V.  (Vema)  ewingi.  FIGURE  24,  Neopilina  veleronis.  FIGURE  25,  N.  galatheae,  after  Lemche  and 
Wingstrand,  1959.  Teeth  from  left  to  right  are  the  rachidian;  first,  second,  and  third  laterals;  fringed  first  marginal;  and  the  outermost, 
second  marginal.  Drawings  by  Mary  Butler. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


17 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Count}  . 1979.  307: 1-19. 


18 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


and  the  teeth  are  most  effective  at  the  “bending  plane.” 

Golikov  and  Starobogatov  consider  the  rasp  type  of  radula  — 
for  which  a more  technical  term  has  not  been  proposed  — as  the 
most  archaic  in  the  Mollusca.  Most  other  authors,  such  as  Fretter 
and  Graham  (1962),  consider  the  rhipidoglossate  radula  as  the 
most  primitive  and  the  docoglossate  radula  derived  from  it  in  an 
as  yet  unexplained  way.  The  matter  remains  controversial 
because  there  is  no  apparent  affinity  between  these  two  kinds  of 
gastropod  radulae. 

A comblike  fringe,  similar  to  that  on  the  neopilinid  first  mar- 
ginal tooth,  occurs  on  the  marginal  teeth  of  some  genera  of  the 
docoglossan  limpet  family  Lepetidae.  In  the  Neopilinidae  the 
fringe  is  found  only  on  the  first  marginal  tooth,  but  in  the  Lepeti- 
dae the  very  similar  appearing  fringe  is  found  on  both  pairs  of 
marginal  teeth.  The  origin  and  significance  of  these  comblike 
teeth  remains  to  be  explained.  Could  the  fringe  be  a clue  to  a 
more  direct  affinity  between  the  Monoplacophora  and  the  Doco- 
glossa? 

The  Paleozoic  monoplacophorans  are  found  in  shallow  water 
deposits.  They  were  probably  grazing  animals  like  modem  patel- 
lacean  limpets  and  chitons.  The  large  and  robust  radular  teeth  in 
modern  limpets  and  chitons  are  opaque  and  mineralized  (Lowen- 
stam  1967,  1971).  The  neopilinid  radula  is  probably  less  robust 
than  that  of  its  fossil  predecessors,  but  is  probably  similar  to  what 
was  present  in  the  extinct  families  of  Monoplacophora.  As  in  the 
chitons  and  docoglossan  limpets,  the  neopilinid  radula  is  large  in 
proportion  to  body  size.  Its  mineral  content  should  be  investi- 
gated. 

The  radula  of  the  Polyplacophora,  the  chitons,  is  not  especially 
diverse  from  family  to  family.  I would  expect  Monoplacophora 
as  a whole,  to  have  had  a diversity  similar  to  that  of  the  Poly- 
placophora, in  which  the  level  of  organization  is  primitive,  the 
family  distinctions  are  not  profound,  and  the  species  are  rela- 
tively few  in  number. 

Origins 

When  the  discovery  of  Neopilina  galatheae  was  announced, 
who  could  have  predicted  that  it  represented  but  one  of  a small 
number  of  species  of  this  relict  group?  Can  it  be  that  the  Laevi- 
pilina  branch  in  the  Neopilinidae  is  represented  elsewhere  in  the 
world?  The  possibility  should  be  considered  by  those  who  have 
opportunity  to  dredge  rocks  at  the  edge  of  the  continental  shelf. 
The  offshore  fauna  of  southern  California  is  one  of  the  most  often 
sampled  and  best  known  in  the  world.  This  discovery  comes  at  a 
time  when  there  are  rather  few  new  species  being  discovered  in 
the  area.  Experienced  collectors  have  no  doubt  had  it  on  hand 
before,  but  have  missed  it.  Many  years  may  pass  before  the 
faunas  of  rocky  bottoms  on  the  outer  continental  shelves  will  be 
sufficiently  known  to  answer  the  question. 

Unfortunately,  a fossil  record  of  the  abyssal  fauna  is  not  acces- 
sible. Many  families  of  modem  mollusks  seem  to  have  centers  of 
origin  in  which  extensive  speciation  has  taken  place.  One  might 
consider  the  eastern  Pacific  as  the  place  of  origin  of  the  neo- 
pilinid stock,  since  most  of  the  species  and  records  are  from  that 
region.  This  might  seem  to  be  a foregone  conclusion  were  it  not 
for  those  species  described  from  single  records  in  the  Indian 
Ocean  and  the  mid-Pacific.  The  most  likely  explanation  seems  to 
be  that  accepted  by  most  authors  (e.g.  Parker  1962)  that  the  neo- 


pilinid line  is  a monoplacophoran  offshoot  that  happened  to 
invade  the  deep  sea  and  has  existed  there  in  the  absence  of  severe 
competition  and  predation  since  the  Paleozoic.  The  shallow  oc- 
currence of  Verna  (Laevipilina)  would  thereby  represent  a reinva- 
sion of  the  shallow  water  habitat  from  an  abyssal  stock. 

Yet  there  is  now  an  alternative  theory:  there  is  a possibility  that 
the  monoplacophorans  have  continued  to  survive  at  intermediate 
depths  since  the  Paleozoic  and  that  the  deep-sea  invasion  is  of 
relatively  recent  occurrence.  The  discovery  of  other  monoplaco- 
phorans from  intermediate  depths  would  support  this  idea.  How- 
ever, the  lack  of  eyes  in  Verna  ( Laevipilina ) hyalina,  a species 
that  lives  at  a depth  where  considerable  light  is  available,  sug- 
gests that  it  is  a derivative  from  forms  existing  in  deep,  lightless 
environments. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 

The  original  discovery  of  this  remarkable  new  species  was  due 
to  the  combined  efforts  of  Louis  Zermatten,  John  E.  Fitch  and  S. 
Stillman  Berry,  those  who  collected,  found,  and  curated  the 
specimens.  I am  especially  grateful  to  Dr.  Berry  for  enabling  me 
to  work  with  the  material. 

The  second  find  of  the  species  was  a supplementary  dividend 
from  the  project:  Southern  California  Baseline  Studies  and 
Analysis  (FY  1975-1976),  under  subcontract  to  Science  Applica- 
tions, Inc.,  La  Jolla,  California  (funded  by  the  Bureau  of  Land 
Management,  U.  S.  Department  of  the  Interior).  I am  grateful  to 
Gilbert  F.  Jones  of  the  University  of  Southern  California  and  the 
project  staff,  especially  Patrick  I.  LaFollette,  for  the  efforts  that 
eventually  produced  the  specimens. 

I thank  Heinz  A.  Lowenstam  of  the  California  Institute  of 
Technology,  Pasadena,  California,  for  the  donation  of  four 
specimens  in  the  type  series.  He,  along  with  my  assistant  Patrick 
I.  LaFollette,  returned  to  the  BLM  locality  on  the  R/V  VELERO 
IV  and  collected  living  specimens. 

I am  especially  grateful  to  M.  Patricia  Morse  and  Nathan  W. 
Riser  of  Northeastern  University,  Nahant,  Massachusetts,  for  sec- 
tioning and  scanning  electron  microscope  study  of  the  two 
specimens  from  the  second  find.  Their  notes  were  a substantial 
contribution  to  this  paper.  Credit  for  technical  assistance  with  the 
SEM  work  goes  to  Edward  Seling  (Harvard  University)  and  Bart 
Yatchmenoff  (Northeastern  University). 

Many  helpful  suggestions  have  been  received  from  Eugene  V. 
Coan,  Myra  Keen,  Patrick  I.  LaFollette,  Robert  J.  Lavenberg, 
Heinz  A.  Lowenstam,  Harold  H.  McLean,  the  late  Robert  J. 
Menzies,  M.  Patricia  Morse,  and  Ellis  L.  Yochelson. 

Photographs  are  largely  the  work  of  Bertram  C.  Draper,  Mu- 
seum Associate,  with  several  others  by  Armando  Solis,  Museum 
Photographer.  Radular  slides  were  prepared  and  photographed  by 
Jo-Carol  Ramsaran,  Museum  Volunteer,  and  drawn  by  Mary  But- 
ler, Museum  Illustrator. 

NOTES  ADDED  IN  PROOF:  1)  An  account  of  the  role  of 
N.H.  Odhner  in  introducing  the  name  Monoplacophora  was  pro- 
vided by  that  author  (Odhner  1961).  2)  In  a paper  just  received 
Lowenstam  (1978)  has  described  the  behavior  and  illustrated  a 
living  specimen  of  Vema  hyalina,  which  he  referred  to  as  “Mc- 
Lean’s Vema  sp.”  3)  Recent  efforts  to  find  rocky  bottom  at  the 
two  positions  mentioned  for  the  original  specimens  from  the 
Berry  Collection  have  not  been  successful. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979  . 307:1—19. 


McLean:  Monoplacophoran  Limpet 


19 


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ewingi,  a second  living  species  of  the  Paleozoic  Class 
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Emery,  K.O.  1960.  The  sea  off  southern  California:  Wiley  and 
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Erben,  H.K.,  G.  FLAJS  and  A.  Siehl.  1968.  Uber  die  Schalen- 
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Filatova,  Z.  A.,  M.  N.  Sokolova  and  R.Y.  Levenstein  1968. 
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Filatova,  Z.A.,  N.G.  Vinogradova  and  L.I.  Moskalev 
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Fretter,  V.  and  A.  Graham  1962.  British  prosobranch  mol- 
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Knight,  J.B.,  H.  Femche  and  E.L.  Yochelson  1958.  Petition 
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Knudsen,  J.  1977.  Obituary:  Henning  M.  Lemche.  J.  Moll. 
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Lemche,  H.  1957.  A new  living  deep-sea  mollusc  of  the 
Cambro-Devonian  Class  Monoplacophora.  Nature  179: 
413-416. 

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M.M.  Jenkins.  The  curious  mollusks.  Holiday  House,  New 
York. 

Lemche,  H.  and  K.G.  Wingstrand.  1959.  The  anatomy  of 
Neopilina  galatheae  Lemche,  1957  (Mollusca,  Tryblidi- 
acea).  Galathea  Rept.  3:  9-71. 


Lowenstam,  H.A.  1967.  Lepidocrocite,  an  apatite  mineral,  and 
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Menzies,  R.J.  1968.  New  species  of  Neopilina  of  the  Cambro- 
Devonian  Class  Monoplacophora  from  the  Milne-Edwards 
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Menzies,  R.J.,  M.  Ewing,  J.L.  Worzel  and  A.H.  Clarke,  Jr. 
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168-182. 

Menzies,  R.J.  and  W.  Layton,  Jr  1963.  A new  species  of 
monoplacophoran  mollusc,  Neopilina  (Neopilina)  veleronis 
from  the  slope  of  the  Cedros  Trench,  Mexico.  Ann.  Mag. 
Nat.  Hist.,  Ser.  13,  5:  401-406. 

Odhner,  N.H.  1961.  Some  notes  of  the  classification  of  Gas- 
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Parker,  R.H.  1962.  Speculations  on  the  origin  of  the  inver- 
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Rokop,  F.J.  1972.  A new  species  of  monoplacophoran  from  the 
abyssal  North  Pacific.  Veliger  15(2):  91-95. 

Rosewater,  J.  1970.  Monoplacophora  in  the  South  Atlantic 
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Runnegar,  B.  and  P.A.  Jell.  1976.  Australian  Middle  Cam- 
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Gastropoden.  Arch.  Moll.  72:  1-10. 

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Accepted  for  publication  August  1,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  307:1-19. 


11 


L52X 


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Number  .SiOB- 
March  16,  1979 


USEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNT)" 


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NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


SERIAL  PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE 


Prior  to  November  30,  i 973 . publications  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  have  appeared  under  various  titles  — Leaflet 
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Editor 


America  by  International  Printing  Services,  Inc. 


Number  308 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


A NEW  SALAMANDER,  GENUS  BATRACHOSEPS, 
FROM  THE  INYO  MOUNTAINS  OF  CALIFORNIA, 
WITH  A DISCUSSION  OF  RELATIONSHIPS  IN  THE  GENUS 


By  Ronald  William  Marlow,  John  M.  Erode,  and  David  B.  Wake 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial,  retaining  the  name  Contribu- 
tions in  Science  and  beginning  with  Number  301. 

This  serial  has  been  newly  formatted  for  maximum  use  of  typography  and  illustrations  per  page, 
and  sized  for  maximum  use  of  paper.  All  photography  has  been  produced  utilizing  a 200-line 
screen  for  detail. 

Since  most  institutions  rebind  Contributions  in  Science  collectively  into  hardbound  volumes, 
and  many  researchers  using  them  desire  to  photocopy  material,  two  new  features  have  been  incor- 
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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
History.  Science  Bulletin  (Numbers  1-30;  28  June  1965  to  10  April  1978)  and  Contributions  in  Science  (Numbers  1-300; 
23  January  1957  to  16  June  1978)  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial  beginning  with  Number  301. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


3 


A NEW  SALAMANDER,  GENUS  BATRACHOSEPS, 
FROM  THE  INYO  MOUNTAINS  OF  CALIFORNIA, 
WITH  A DISCUSSION  OF  RELATIONSHIPS  IN  THE  GENUS1 * 

By  Ronald  William  Marlow"  John  M.  Erode,3 and  David  B.  Wake  4 


Abstract:  A newly  discovered  species  of  plethodontid  salamander  from  the  Inyo  Mountains  in  the  north- 
ern Mojave  Desert,  California,  is  described  as  Botrachoseps  campi.  This  new  species  helps  bridge  the  gap 
between  Botrachoseps  and  members  of  the  tropical  supergenus  Bolitoglossa,  and  may  well  be  the  most  general- 
ized of  all  bolitoglossine  salamanders.  Botrachoseps  campi  and  B.  aridus  are  the  only  plethodontid  salamanders 
known  to  be  restricted  to  localized  mesic  microhabitats  surrounded  by  desert.  The  new  species  is  very  general- 
ized in  morphology.  In  some  respects  it  resembles  B.  wrighti  of  Oregon,  but  it  also  shares  some  features  with 
B.  aridus.  On  the  basis  of  its  distinctive  morphology  and  distribution,  B.  campi  is  thought  to  be  a survivor  of 
an  early  stage  in  the  evolution  of  the  genus.  The  Inyo  Mountains  region  may  have  served  as  the  habitat  of  the 
species  throughout  much  of  the  Tertiary.  Recommendations  are  made  for  preservation  of  the  fragile  habitats  in 
which  the  species  lives. 


In  1970  Brame  described  the  first  terrestrial  salamander 
endemic  to  desert  habitats.  Botrachoseps  aridus  occurs  in  a 
highly  restricted,  mesic  microhabitat  in  the  desert  of  southern 
California.  We  now  announce  the  discovery  of  a second  species 
of  lungless  salamanders,  family  Plethodontidae,  known  from 
desert  regions.  The  new  species  was  discovered  in  the  fall  of 
1973  in  two  canyons  along  the  west  slope  of  the  Inyo  Mountains 
at  the  northern  edge  of  the  Mojave  Desert  near  the  Owens  Val- 
ley, California.  This  strikingly  distinct  form  is  so  different  from 
other  Botrachoseps  in  its  robustness  and  coloration  that  we  ini- 
tially thought  it  to  be  a species  of  Hydromantes,  or  even  of  a new 
genus.  Upon  further  examination  it  proved  to  be  a structurally 
generalized  member  of  the  genus  Botrachoseps,  very  similar  to  a 
postulated  ancestor  of  the  entire  genus  and  not  much  removed 
from  the  ancestral  stock  of  the  tribe  Bolitoglossini  (including 
Hydromantes  and  all  of  the  neotropical  plethodontid  salamanders, 
in  addition  to  Botrachoseps).  Like  B.  aridus,  the  species  seems 
to  occur  only  in  restricted,  mesic  microhabitats  in  a setting  that  is 
seemingly  harsh  and  inhospitable  for  salamanders.  Yet,  the 
apparent  absence  of  any  populations  even  remotely  similar  to  this 
species  in  areas  more  favorable  for  salamanders  suggests  that  the 
Inyo  Mountains  have  long  been  the  home  of  the  species.  These 
mountains  are  relatively  ancient,  and  in  fact  may  represent  rem- 
nants of  the  original  crest  of  the  Sierra  Nevada  before  the  modern 
mountains  were  uplifted  to  the  west  (Bateman  and  Wahrhaftig 
1966).  Possibly  these  salamanders  have  been  in  the  Inyo  Moun- 
tains throughout  Cenozoic  times. 

The  new  species  is  named  in  honor  of  the  late  Charles  L. 
Camp,  herpetologist,  paleontologist,  and  historian,  who  con- 
tributed greatly  to  our  knowledge  of  the  American  West.  Profes- 
sor Camp  discovered  the  genus  Hydromantes  in  the  New  World, 
described  H.  platycephalus,  participated  in  the  discovery  and 
description  of  H.  shastae,  and  very  early  recognized  the  diversi- 


fication within  the  genus  Botrachoseps  in  his  description  of  B. 
major.  The  species  shall  be  known  as: 

Botrachoseps  campi  new  species 

Figures  1,  6,  7,  8,  11 

Suggested  common  name:  Inyo  Mountains  Salamander. 

HOLOTYPE:  MVZ  122993,  an  adult  female  from  Long  John 
Canyon,  W slope  of  the  Inyo  Mountains,  elevation  1695  m (5560 
ft),  3.2  km  (2  mi)  (airline)  N,  5.3  km  (3.3  mi)  E Lone  Pine,  Inyo 
County,  California,  USA;  collected  by  John  M.  Brode  and  Ron- 
ald William  Marlow  on  September  26,  1973. 

PARATYPES:  MVZ  122994-122996  (3  specimens),  same 
data  as  the  holotype;  MVZ  123011-123015  (5  specimens),  same 
locality  as  holotype,  collected  October  20,  1973;  MVZ  122997  - 
123009,  123017  - 123031  (28  specimens),  LACM  122004  - 
122011  (8  specimens),  French  Spring,  W slope  of  the  Inyo 
Mountains,  elevation  1829  m (6000  ft),  6.4  km  (4  mi)  N,  5.7 
km  (3.6  mi)  E Lone  Pine,  Inyo  County,  California. 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution 
Robert  L.  Bezy 
Arden  H.  Brame 
James  F.  Lynch 
Jay  M.  Savage 
John  W.  Wright 

-’Museum  of  Vertebrate  Zoology,  University  of  California,  Berkeley, 
California  94720. 

3Department  of  Fish  and  Game,  987  Jedsmith  Drive,  Sacramento,  Cali- 
fornia 95819. 

4Research  Associate  in  Herpetology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County,  Los  Angeles,  California  90007. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


4 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


Figure  1.  Batrachoseps  campi  (MVZ  123023),  an  adult  female  (40.4  SL)  from  Long  John  Canyon,  Inyo  Mountains,  Inyo  County,  California.  Photograph 
by  James  Hendel,  Scientific  Photography  Laboratory,  University  of  California,  Berkeley.  Scale  is  25  mm. 


DIAGNOSIS:  A large,  robust  species  of  Batrachoseps  (indi- 
viduals identifiable  to  sex,  16  males:  41.3-53.3,  mean  45.3  SL5; 
23  females:  32.0-60.7,  mean  45.5  SL)  with  a short  tail,  broad 
head  and  large  feet;  distinguished  from  all  members  of  the  genus 
by  these  characters  and  by  its  distinctive  coloration  (dark 
brown-black  ground  color  with  moderate  to  large  patches  of  light 
gray  iridophores  on  upper  eyelids  and  irregularly  spread  over 
head  and  anterior  part  of  trunk,  and  lacking  a dorsal  stripe  or 
band  that  is  lighter  than  the  ground  color);  distinguished  from  B. 
aridus  by  its  much  larger  size  (largest  known  B.  aridus  are  less 
than  40  mm  SL),  relatively  shorter  tail,  and  fewer  vertebrae 
(19-20  versus  17-19);  further  distinguished  from  species  which 
approach  it  in  adult  size  by  its  much  broader  head,  fewer  trank 
vertebrae  (except  B.  wrighti)  and  much  shorter  tail.  Batrachoseps 
campi  is  the  only  member  of  the  genus  that  has  paired  prefrontal 
bones  and  divided  premaxillary  bones  from  early  juvenile  stages 
throughout  adult  life. 

DESCRIPTION:  Batrachoseps  campi  is  the  most  generalized 
member  of  the  genus  in  its  morphology.  The  species  is  relatively 
large  and  has  a large,  broadly  rounded  snout.  Nostrils  are  small 
and  typical  of  the  genus.  There  are  no  protuberances  associated 
with  the  distinct  nasolabial  grooves.  No  mental  hedonic  glands 
have  been  observed  in  males.  The  head  is  very  broad  (SL 
6.6-7. 1,  mean  6.8  times  head  width  in  6 males  and  6. 3-7. 5, 
mean  7.0  in  females  over  45  SL).  Grooving  patterns  of  head, 
throat  and  neck  are  typical  of  the  genus.  Eyes  are  relatively  large 
and  moderately  protuberant.  Vomerine  teeth  are  borne  in  long 
series  (mean  total  16.5);  frequently  the  teeth  extend  nearly  to  the 
lateral  edge  of  the  internal  nares.  Small  maxillary  teeth  extend 
beyond  the  center  of  the  eyeball;  they  increase  in  number  with 
increasing  size  and  are  relatively  numerous  (mean  total  46).  Pre- 
maxillary teeth  are  small  and  numerous  (8-10  in  adult  males; 
6-17  in  adult  females);  they  are  in  an  advanced  position  in  the 
males,  but  barely  protrude  through  the  lip.  Costal  grooves 
between  appressed  limbs  (counting  one  each  in  axilla  and  groin) 
range  from  16-  18  with  a strong  mode  of  17.  The  tail  is  short  for 
this  genus  and  tapered;  tail  length  in  20  adults  over  45  SL  is 
0.62-0.88,  mean  0.76  (±  0.06)  times  SL,  with  no  discernible 
sexual  dimorphism.  The  tail  has  no  basal  constriction,  and  is 


nearly  round.  However,  an  irregular  row  of  enlarged  glands  is 
present  on  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  tail.  These  glands  form 
pustule-like  protuberances  that  are  more  lightly  colored  than  sur- 
rounding surfaces.  The  postiliac  gland  is  a small,  grayish  spot 
that  is  not  conspicuous.  Limbs  are  long  for  the  genus,  and  leave 
from  2-5  intercostal  folds  uncovered  when  appressed  (mean  3.66 
± 0.89;  n = 47).  Standard  length  ranges  from  4. 2-5. 3 (mean 
4.8  ± 0.3)  times  hind  limb  length  in  16  females,  and  from 
4.5-5. 1 (mean  4.8  ± 0.25)  in  males.  The  hands  and  feet  are 
large  for  this  genus.  Webbing  is  insignificant,  and  the  four  fin- 
gers and  four  toes  are  all  discrete.  The  third  digit  of  both  manus 
and  pes  is  far  longer  than  the  others.  All  digits  have  bulbous  tips 
and  large  subdigital  pads.  Fingers  in  order  of  decreasing  length: 
3,  2,  4,  1;  toes  in  order  of  decreasing  length:  3,  2,  4,  1. 

MEASUREMENTS  (OF  HOLOTYPE):  Head  width,  8.4; 
snout  to  gular  fold  (head  length),  12.8;  head  depth  at  posterior 
angle  of  jaw,  2.9;  eyelid  length,  3.3;  eyelid  width,  2.0;  anterior 
rim  of  orbit  to  snout,  1.7;  horizontal  orbital  diameter,  1.9;  inter- 
orbital distance,  3.8;  distance  between  vomerine  teeth  and  para- 
spheroid  tooth  patch,  0.2;  snout  to  fore  limb,  5.7;  distance  sepa- 
rating internal  nares,  2.4;  distance  separating  external  nares,  2.6; 
snout  projection  beyond  mandible,  0.9;  snout  to  posterior  angle 
of  vent  (standard  length),  60.7;  snout  to  anterior  angle  of  vent, 
56.1;  axilla  to  groin  length,  32.5;  tail  length,  48.5;  tail  width  at 
base,  4.3;  tail  depth  at  base,  3.7;  fore  limb  length,  11.1;  hind 
limb  length,  12.1;  width  of  right  hand,  3.4;  width  of  right  foot, 
4.0. 

COLORATION:  This  is  a dark  salamander  that  differs  from  all 
other  Batrachoseps  in  lacking  a dorsal  stripe  at  all  ages.  The 
ground  color  is  very  dark  brown-black  in  most  individuals,  but  a 
lighter  brown-black  in  some.  This  is  the  result  of  a dense  network 
of  melanophores,  covering  the  whole  body  with  few  or  no  gaps. 
The  only  additional  color  is  a scattering  of  silvery  iridophores 
which  when  grouped  together  form  patches  with  a slightly  green- 
ish hue.  Patches  of  iridophores  are  concentrated  on  the  upper 


5SL  = standard  length,  the  distance  from  the  snout  to  the  posterior  angle 
of  the  vent;  all  measurements  in  this  paper  are  in  millimeters,  unless 
stated  otherwise. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  ( Batrachoseps ) 


5 


Figure  2.  Type  locality  of  Batrachoseps  campi.  Long  John  Canyon,  Inyo  Mountains,  Inyo  County,  California.  Camera  is  aimed  southeast.  Salamanders 
were  found  inside  the  mouth  of  the  canyon,  under  surface  objects  in  the  shaded  area. 


eyelids  of  most  individuals,  and  in  a series  of  spots  of  varying 
size  lying  mainly  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  head,  the  neck,  and 
the  dorsum  in  the  vicinity  of  the  insertion  of  the  hind  limbs. 
Elsewhere,  including  the  nearly  immaculate  venter,  the  irido- 
phores  are  scarce  and  small.  These  cells  fade  and  disappear  after 
a short  time  in  alcohol.  The  dorsal  glands  of  the  tail  are  prom- 
inent near  the  tail  base  in  many  of  the  individuals.  They  appear  to 
be  brown-tan  in  color,  the  result  of  a thinning  of  the  ground 
color.  The  iris  is  dark  and  featureless. 

REMARKS:  There  is  little  sexual  dimorphism  in  this  species. 
Mean  SL  of  males  and  females  in  the  sample  is  similar,  but 
females  appear  to  reach  larger  sizes  than  males.  Females  have 
vertically  folded  vent  margins,  whereas  males  have  dense,  short 
papillae  in  the  anterior  half  of  the  vent. 

Some  large  females  in  the  sample  have  enlarged,  yellow 
ovarian  eggs.  Testes  of  most  adult  males  are  large  and  unpig- 
mented.  Vasa  deferentia  are  heavily  pigmented  in  most  adult 
males.  The  two  largest  males  (50.4,  53.3)  have  bilobed  testes. 
The  smallest  male  with  bilobed  testes  is  45.0  SL,  and  the  largest 
male  with  unilobed  testes  is  47.4  SL.  Males  43.3  and  49.0  SL 
have  a second  lobe  forming,  and  a male  48.6  SL  has  two  lobes. 

When  uncovered,  individuals  of  B.  campi  displayed  no  special 
defensive  behavior  of  the  kind  observed  in  other  species  of  the 
genus  (Stebbins  and  Lowe,  1947;  Brame,  Long,  and  Chiri, 
1973).  Apparently  immobility  is  the  sole  defensive  behavior. 


HABITAT:  The  western  slopes  of  the  Inyo  Mountains  receive 
approximately  22  cm  of  precipitation  each  year,  much  of  it  com- 
ing in  snowfall.  Vegetation  on  the  slopes  is  sparse  and  stunted 
with  extensive  areas  of  open,  rocky  substrate.  Long  John  Canyon 
is  narrow  and  winding  with  rock  walls  rising  almost  vertically  for 
about  150  m.  At  the  type  locality  the  canyon  axis  is  east- west 
and  the  canyon  floor  is  about  10  m wide  (Fig.  2).  The  floor  of 
the  canyon  is  strewn  with  boulders  and  flood-carried  rubble.  A 
permanent  spring  at  the  type  locality  provides  enough  moisture 
for  a dense,  nearly  impenetrable  growth  of  woody  shrubs  (aver- 
age height  about  2 m)  filling  the  canyon  floor  and  extending 
approximately  100  m.  This  appears  to  be  the  extent  of  the  avail- 
able surface  habitat,  though  crevices  and  subterranean  water 
courses  may  provide  extensive  underground  habitat. 

Salamanders  were  found  under  rocks  in  fine,  dark  soil  (a  sandy 
loam)  that  was  wet  enough  that  a cast  formed  in  the  hand  with- 
stood taps  with  the  finger.  As  many  as  four  animals  were  taken 
under  a single  large  rock  (25  x 40  cm).  This  is  a heavily  shaded 
canyon.  On  October  20  the  sun  shone  on  the  canyon  bottom  at 
10:30,  but  by  noon  the  canyon  was  entirely  shaded. 

The  flora  of  the  canyon  floor  is  dominated  by  dense  stands  of 
Salix  sp.,  Forestiera  neomexicana  and  Rosa  Woodsii.  Also  pres- 
ent were  Erodium  sp.,  Artemisia  Dracunculus,  A.  ludoviciana , 
Clematis  ligusticifolia,  Aquilegia  formosa,  Gutierrezia  micro- 
cephala,  Philadelphus  microphyllus,  Chrysothamnus  teretifolius 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County . 1979.  308:1-17. 


6 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


Table  1.  Classification 

matrix 

based  i 

on  discriminant  analysis 

of  229  specimens  of 

nine 

species  of 

Batrachoseps,  including  juveniles  and  adults  of  both  sexes.  Entries  along  the  main  diagonal  are 
matches  of  individuals  to  their  source  populations  based  on  twelve  morphological  characters. 

Number  of  Individuals  Classified  into  Group 

“correct” 

Group 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

8 

9 

I aridus 

13 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

2 stebbinsi 

0 

29 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

3 simatus 

0 

3 

23 

0 

2 

0 

0 

1 

4 attenuatus 

0 

0 

0 

27 

3 

0 

0 

0 

5 major 

0 

0 

1 

1 

26 

0 

0 

2 

6 campi 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

46 

0 

0 

8 wrighti 

1 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

18 

0 

9 pacificus 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

29 

and  Haplopappus  cuneatus. 

The  second  locality,  French  Spring,  is  6.4  km  (4  mi)  (airline) 
north  and  5.7  km  (3.6  mi)  (airline)  east  of  Lone  Pine,  Inyo  Co., 
California,  at  an  elevation  of  about  1800  m.  The  water  flow  of 
this  spring  is  much  more  extensive  than  in  Long  John  Canyon. 
The  flow  from  the  spring  cascades  down  approximately  300  m of 
naturally  terraced  rocky  hillside  and  approximately  300  m of 
canyon  floor,  before  disappearing  in  the  sand.  Vegetation  is  simi- 
lar to  that  at  the  type  locality  (Fig.  3). 

COMPARISONS:  Both  bivariate  and  multivariate  morpho- 
metric analyses  have  been  used  to  compare  B.  campi  with  other 
described  species  of  Batrachoseps.  For  these  comparisons  the  fol- 
lowing juvenile  and  adult  specimens  were  used  (all  deposited  in 
LACM  and  MVZ,  catalogue  numbers  and  measurements  on  fde 
at  MVZ):  14  B.  aridas  (type  locality);  30  B.  stebbinsi  (type 
series);  29  B.  simatus  (type  series);  30  B.  attenuatus  (San  Fran- 
cisco, Calif.);  30  B.  major  (vicinity  of  Los  Angeles,  Calif);  46  B. 
campi  (type  series);  20  B.  wrighti  (central  Oregon);  30  B.  pacifi- 
cus  (Santa  Cruz  Island).  Only  B.  relictus,  a highly  variable 
species  currently  under  study  by  Kay  Yanev,  was  omitted.  The 
latter  species  is  small  and  slender,  and  is  most  similar  in  mor- 
phology to  B.  attenuatus.  Data  for  the  following  characters  were 
used:  SL,  head  width,  hind  limb  length,  front  limb  length,  limb 
interval,  total  maxillary  teeth,  total  vomerine  teeth,  tail  length, 
front  foot  width,  hind  foot  width,  head  length,  number  of  trunk 
vertebrae.  Bivariate  plots  of  head  width,  limb  length  and  foot 
width  against  standard  length  were  produced  for  comparison  with 
the  results  of  Brame  and  Murray  (1968),  and  tooth  number  and 
tail  length  were  also  plotted  against  standard  length.  The  results 
of  the  bivariate  analysis  indicated  that  most  characters  distinguish 
B.  campi  from  some  other  species  and  some  characters  (head 
width.  Fig.  4)  distinguish  B.  campi  from  nearly  all  other  Batra- 
choseps (compare  with  Fig.  9,  Brame  and  Murray  1968).  The 
species  differ  greatly  in  adult  size,  thus  making  direct  comparison 
of  individual  features  and  even  bivariate  analysis  difficult.  How- 
ever, the  species  of  Batrachoseps  are  readily  distinguished  by 
combinations  of  three  characters  or  more,  and  we  believe  multi- 
variate discrimination  is  the  method  of  choice.  Canonical  variate 
analysis  was  chosen  to  discriminate  between  the  species.  In  par- 
ticular, we  wished  to  determine  how  distinct  if.  campi  was  rela- 
tive to  species  it  resembled  most  closely,  based  on  bivariate 
analysis.  The  University  of  California,  Berkeley,  version  of  the 
BMD07M  program  for  stepwise  discriminate  analysis  was  used 
(see  Lynch  and  Wake  1975,  for  description). 

The  main  result  of  the  discriminate  analysis  is  the  demonstra- 


tion of  the  distinctiveness  of  B.  campi  relative  to  other  species  of 
Batrachoseps.  Even  among  the  remaining  species  of  the  genus 
there  is  a moderate  amount  of  discrimination,  but  we  emphasize 
that  we  are  not  considering  geographic  variation  here.  A feature 
of  the  program  used  is  a classification  matrix  which  gives  the 
number  of  "correct”  and  "incorrect"  assignments  of  individuals 
to  their  proper  populations  on  the  basis  of  morphological  criteria 
alone  (see  Lynch  and  Wake  1975).  The  classification  matrix 
(Table  1)  assigned  all  46  specimens  of  B.  campi  to  the  correct 
population  on  morphological  grounds.  There  are  from  one  (B. 
pacificus,  B.  aridus,  B.  wrighti)  to  six  (B.  simatus)  mis-classifi- 
cations  in  the  other  species,  but  overall  92  per  cent  of  the  classi- 
fications are  correct.  The  first  three  canonical  variables  account  for 
93  per  cent  of  the  observed  interspecific  variance.  The  first  two 
canonical  axes  are  illustrated  in  Figure  5. 

Along  the  first  axis  (accounting  for  69  per  cent  of  the  interspe- 
cific variance)  species  are  separated  mainly  by  factors  related  to 
size  (standard  length,  head  width).  Limb  interval  and  tail  length 
also  contribute  importantly.  B.  campi  is  well  separated  from  all 
other  species.  B.  aridus.  B.  stebbinsi.  B.  wrighti  and  B.  pacificus 
are  relatively  close  to  B.  campi  along  this  axis;  B.  attenuatus,  B. 
major,  and  B.  simatus  are  relatively  remote. 

The  second  axis  (accounting  for  16  per  cent  of  the  total  inter- 
specific variance)  separates  B.  wrighti  from  all  other  species,  but 
seems  to  add  little  to  discrimination  among  remaining  species. 
Based  on  the  magnitude  of  standardized  coefficients  of  the  canon- 
ical variables,  head  width,  numbers  of  trunk  vertebrae  and  foot 
width  contribute  most  to  discrimination  along  this  axis. 

The  third  axis  accounts  for  only  about  8 per  cent  of  the  total 
interspecific  variance.  It  allows  separation  of  B.  stebbinsi  andfl. 
simatus  from  all  other  species,  with  B.  aridus  being  on  the 
extreme  end  of  the  axis  from  B.  stebbinsi.  Other  axes  contribute 
little  additional  discrimination. 

COMPARATIVE  OSTEOLOGY:  Osteological  comparisons  to 
other  Batrachoseps  are  based  on  study  of  an  adult  female  (49.4 
SL)  and  a juvenile  female  (37.6  SL)  of  B.  campi.  These  were 
cleared  and  stained  using  standard  techniques.  Radiographs  of  the 
type  series  and  both  cleared  and  stained  specimens  and  radio- 
graphs of  all  other  species  of  the  genus  were  utilized. 

Batrachoseps  campi  is  similar  to  other  species  of  Batrachoseps 
in  some  features  of  skull  structure,  but  it  is  highly  distinctive  in 
others.  The  skull  of  B.  campi  is  typical  of  the  genus  in  propor- 
tions (Fig.  6).  The  characteristic  dorsal  fontanelle  between  the 
paired  frontals  and  parietals  is  especially  prominent.  The  fron- 
tanelle  is  proportionately  of  similar  size  in  all  species  of  Batra- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


7 


choseps,  with  a slightly  smaller  fontanelle  in  B.  wrighti  than  in 
other  species.  Only  Batrachoseps  among  all  genera  of  salaman- 
ders has  a fontanelle  of  this  shape.  In  all  Batrachoseps  the  skull 
is  relatively  short  and  broad;  total  skull  width  is  70  to  75  per  cent 
of  skull  length,  and  B.  campi  falls  about  in  the  middle  of  the 
range  of  measurements. 

The  relatively  short  maxillary  bones  seen  in  B.  campi  are 
widespread  in  Batrachoseps . Characteristically  the  frontals  are 
narrowed,  appearing  “pinched”  between  the  orbits,  and  this  is 
seen  in  B.  campi.  In  all  species  the  skull  is  lightly  built  and  rather 
weakly  articulated.  However,  B.  campi  has  notably  stronger  and 
more  extensive  cranial  articulations  than  other  species. 

Premaxillary  bones  of  B.  campi  are  separated  in  both  juvenile 
and  adult  specimens.  In  most  of  the  radiographed  individuals, 
including  juveniles,  the  divided  premaxillaries  can  be  seen 
clearly.  In  some  individuals  the  appropriate  region  of  the  skull  is 
obscure  on  the  radiographs.  Divided  premaxillary  bones  are 
found  elsewhere  in  the  genus  only  in  large  adult  B.  wrighti 
(Bishop  1937,  Stebbins  and  Lowe  1949,  Wake  1966).  Smaller  B. 
campi  than  those  available  to  us  (28.5  SL)  probably  have  a single 
premaxillary  bone,  the  typical  plethodontid  situation;  fused  larval 
and  juvenile  premaxillaries  separate  at  metamorphosis  or  early  in 
life  in  the  primitive  plethodontid  condition,  but  remain  fused  in  a 
variety  of  derived  conditions  (Wake  1966). 

In  B.  pacificus,  B.  simatus,  B.  stebbinsi.  B.  major,  B.  aridus 
and  some  populations  of  B . attenuatus  and  B.  relictus , the  frontal 
processes  of  the  premaxillary  arise  separately,  then  fuse  for  a 
distance  before  again  separating  near  their  tips.  We  see  no  evi- 
dence of  such  fusion  in  either  B.  wrighti  or  B.  campi.  The  poste- 
rior tips  of  the  frontal  processes  diverge  greatly  in  B.  campi,  to  a 
lesser  degree  in  B.  wrighti  and  only  slightly  in  other  species.  As 
in  all  species  of  Batrachoseps  the  premaxillaries  of  males  are 
larger  and  more  protuberant  than  those  of  females,  but  sexual 
dimorphism  is  apparently  less  marked  than  in  such  species  as  B. 
pacificus  and  B.  major,  and  probably  less  than  in  the  other 
species  as  well. 

The  maxillary  bones  are  not  well  articulated  with  other  bones 
in  Batrachoseps,  but  in  B.  campi  the  elements  are  relatively 
stouter  than  in  any  other  species  of  the  genus.  The  facial  lobe  of 
the  maxillary  in  B.  campi  is  relatively  large,  equalling  the  propor- 
tions in  such  large  species  as  B.  pacificus.  Palatal  portions  of  the 
maxillaries  are  very  small.  The  large  nasal  bones  are  the  domi- 
nant facial  elements.  They  have  a narrow  spinous  projection  par- 
alleling the  frontal  processes  of  the  premaxillaries  in  B.  campi 
and  in  other  Batrachoseps,  but  these  are  especially  pronounced  in 
B.  campi.  Rather  well  developed  septomaxillaries  are  present  in 
all  species  of  Batrachoseps. 

Prefrontal  bones  have  previously  been  reported  only  in  B. 
wrighti,  in  which  individuals  over  45  mm  body  size  have  very 
tiny  but  discrete  elements  (Wake  1966).  Well  developed  pre- 
frontals  are  present  in  both  the  juvenile  and  adult  B.  campi,  and, 
while  the  radiographs  are  not  suitable  for  finding  these  elements 
in  all  instances,  they  can  be  seen  in  a number  of  the  X-rayed 
specimens.  The  bones  are  about  the  size  of  the  facial  lobes  of  the 
maxillaries  and  are  distinctly  larger  than  the  septomaxillaries.  In 
contrast,  the  prefrontals  which  develop  in  large  B.  wrighti  remain 
much  smaller  than  the  septomaxillaries. 

Preorbital  processes  of  the  vomers  are  typically  absent  in  Bat- 
rachoseps. In  B.  campi  small  processes  that  extend  to  the  lateral 
margin  of  the  internal  nares  (adult)  or  to  the  center  of  the  nares 
(juvenile)  are  evident.  These  tooth-bearing  processes  are  prom- 
inent in  the  radiographs.  In  other  species  of  Batrachoseps  the 


Figure  3.  French  Spring,  Inyo  Mountains,  Inyo  County,  California. 
Camera  is  aimed  southeast.  Salamanders  were  found  under  rocks  along 
the  stream  course  in  the  center  of  the  photograph. 


Table  2.  Quantitative  characteristics  of  the  chromosomes  of 
Batrachoseps  campi  based  on  haploid  set  of  Figure  12. 


Chromosome 

No. 

Relative 

lengthJ 

Arm 

.■  b 
ratio 

Centromere 

index^ 

1 

11.0 

1.05 

49 

2 

10.0 

1.28 

44 

3 

9.8 

1.05 

49 

4 

9.0 

1.21 

45 

5 

8.8 

1.10 

48 

6 

8.4 

3.35 

23 

7 

7.8 

1.00 

50 

8 

7.1 

1.04 

49 

9 

6.0 

1.38 

42 

10 

6.0 

1.06 

48 

11 

5.8 

1.31 

43 

12 

5.7 

1.14 

47 

13 

4.8 

2.13 

32 

a Length  of  chromosome/total  length  of  haploid  genome  x 100. 
b Length  of  long  arm/length  of  short  arm. 
c Length  of  short  arm  x 100/length  of  whole  chromosome. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


8 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


8- 


HW 


6 - 


Batrachoseps 
x aridus 
• campi 
a stebbinsi 
□ wrighti 
o pacificus 


•• 


x **  * 

* • X* 


□ 

D □ □ 

□ o dm 

Q O A A 


• • 

• 

• • 

• 

• 

• • 

• o 

••  o 

o 

• 

o 

• 

oo 

• 

• • • 

o o 

A 

• 

O A 

• O O O o 

AA 

AA 

A 

O a 

A 

• 

O 

A 

O 

A 

o o 

< 

o 

o 

o 

A 

o 

A 

□ 

O A A 

o 

A O 

□ o 

□ 

□ 

□ 

□ 

A 

O O A 

□ 

A A 
A DA 
A 


4 - 


A A 


“I 1 1 1 1 1 1 

30  40  50  60 

SL 


Figure  4.  Relation  of  head  width  to  standard  length  in  the  five  species  of  Batrachoseps  having  the  broadest  heads  in  the  genus. 


processes  are  usually  mere  suggestions  of  bone  growth  behind  the 
nares  (Fig.  7),  but  there  are  two  exceptions.  In  a radiograph  of 
one  very  large  B.  wrighti  (reported  by  Brame  1964)  a small  pro- 
cess is  clearly  evident,  and  very  small  processes  are  evident  in  a 
radiograph  of  one  adult  B.  aridus. 

The  nasolacrimal  duct  extends  anteroventrally  from  the  corner 
of  the  eye  to  the  cartilaginous  nasal  capsule.  The  opening  in  the 
nasal  capsule  lies  in  the  gap  between  the  facial  process  of  the 
maxillary  and  the  nasal.  Typically,  slight  evacuations  in  the  lat- 
eral margins  of  the  nasals,  or  more  rarely  in  the  anterodorsal 
margin  of  the  maxillary,  mark  the  route  of  the  duct  in  species  of 
Batrachoseps.  In  B.  campi  the  duct  produces  slight  dorsal  con- 
cavities in  the  anterior  part  of  the  prefrontals  as  well. 

Frontal  bones  in  Batrachoseps  contribute  importantly  to  the 
facial  part  of  the  skull,  especially  by  means  of  a long  attenuated 
process  that  extends  anteriorly  below  the  frontal  processes  of  the 
premaxillary.  In  B.  campi  the  facial  portion  of  the  frontal  is  rela- 
tively less  developed  than  in  other  species  and  there  is  no  spinous 
process.  Further,  only  the  tips  of  the  premaxillaries  overlap  the 
frontals.  In  other  respects,  the  frontals  inB.  campi  are  similar  to 
those  in  other  Batrachoseps.  with  the  characteristic  posterior 
divergence  of  the  bones.  B.  wrighti  has  relatively  the  widest 
frontals.  Frontals  are  about  one-half  the  total  skull  length  in  B. 
campi,  B.  wrighti  and  B.  pacificus,  but  on  the  order  of  two-thirds 


the  total  skull  length  in  B.  stebbinsi,  B.  aridus,  and  the  other 
species. 

All  species  have  small  parietal  bones,  with  no  clear  differentia- 
tion among  the  species  in  terms  of  relative  size.  The  bones 
usually  fall  short  of  the  narrow  occipital  bridge  portion  of  the 
skull.  In  all  species  a well  defined  lateral  spur  is  present  on  the 
parietal  (see  Wake  1966),  and  it  is  particularly  stout  in  B.  campi. 

Squamosal  and  quadrate  bones  are  small  and  have  no  special 
features  in  any  single  species.  Dentaries  are  slender  and  similar 
in  structure  in  all  species.  Prearticulars  have  low  coronoid  pro- 
cesses. All  species  have  columellar  processes  extending  from  the 
opercular  plate.  These  processes  are  well  developed  inB.  campi. 

Teeth  of  Batrachoseps  typically  occur  on  premaxillary,  maxil- 
lary, dentary,  and  vomerine  elements,  and  in  addition  there  is  a 
paired  patch  of  teeth  along  the  parasphenoid.  The  patches  vary 
greatly  within  and  between  species  in  size  and  number  of  teeth. 

The  hyobranchial  apparatus  is  typical  of  the  genus  Batracho- 
seps in  all  important  respects  (see  Lombard  and  Wake  1977) 
including  the  long,  recurved  radii,  the  absence  of  a lingual  car- 
tilage, the  basibranchial  of  relatively  uniform  width,  and  the  rela- 
tively long  epibranchial.  The  genioglossal  muscles  are  slender 
and  elongate.  These  muscles  have  a unique  arrangement  in  Bat- 
rachoseps, originating  from  the  mandible  near  the  jaw  articula- 
tion and  proceeding  well  forward  before  extending  to  the  midline 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


9 


r~ — ' — — i — i — i i ” — T"  — ’i  i———h 

-8  -6  -4  -2  0 2 4 6 8 


First  Canonical  Axis 

Figure  5.  Plot  of  first  two  canonical  variates  for  adults  of  eight  species  of  Batrachoseps.  The  discriminant  analysis  includes  12  morphological  variables. 
The  first  variate  (abscissa)  accounts  for  69  per  cent  of  the  observed  interspecific  variance. The  cross  marks  the  centroid  for  each  species.  All  individuals  for 
each  species  are  enclosed  within  the  indicated  perimeter  except  for  B.  campi,  where  all  individuals  are  spotted.  1.  B aridus,  2.  B.  stebbinsi,  3.  B. 
simatus,  4.  B.  attenuatus,  5.  B.  major,  6.  B.  pacificus,  7.  B.  wrighti. 


and  dorsally  into  the  tongue  (Piatt  1935). 

Trunk  vertebrae  in  Batrachoseps  number  from  16  to  23.  but  any 
single  population  has  a maximal  range  of  variation  of  four.  B. 
wrighti,  the  species  with  the  shortest  trunk,  has  a modal  number  of 
17.  Some  populations  of  B.  relictus  also  have  a modal  number  of  17, 
but  others  have  modal  numbers  as  high  as  21.  In  B.  campi  there  is  a 
strong  mode  of  18,  with  a range  of  17-19  (mean  = 17.9  ± .42  SD). 
All  individuals  from  Long  John  Canyon  have  18  trunk  vertebrae.  B. 
aridus  has  a strong  mode  of  19,  with  a range  of  19-20  (Brame, 
1970).  The  remaining  species  all  have  higher  numbers  of  trunk 
vertebrae,  with  both  B major  and  B.  attentuatus  having  modes  as 
high  as  22,  and  occasional  individuals  of  these  species  and  B. 
relictus  having  as  many  as  23. 

Genera  of  plethodontid  salamanders  have  either  two  or  three 


caudosacral  vertebrae,  with  the  exception  of  Batrachoseps,  in 
which  both  numbers  may  occur  in  a single  population  (Wake 
1966).  B.  campi  is  typical  of  the  genus,  some  individuals  having 
two  and  others,  three. 

Complete  tails  are  present  in  32  of  the  type  series  of  B.  campi. 
In  these  individuals  postsacral  vertebrae  (including  either  2 or  3 
caudosacral  and  all  of  the  caudals)  range  from  22-34  (mean 
28.44  ± 2. 18),  with  numbers  increasing  from  juveniles  to  adults. 
This  is  a very  low  number  for  Batrachoseps,  but  accurate  com- 
parative data  are  not  available  for  other  species.  The  main  prob- 
lem in  obtaining  accurate  counts  is  the  high  frequency  of  tail 
breaks.  However,  numbers  as  high  as  60  caudal  vertebrae  occur 
in  some  of  the  species.  Relatively  few  caudal  vertebrae  might 
also  be  expected  in  the  relatively  short-tailed  B.  aridus,  but  our 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


10 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


/ 


B.  w right i 


B.  arid  us 


Figure  6.  Dorsal  views  of  the  skulls  of  four  species  of  Batrachoseps.  The  lines  indicate  the  divided  premaxillary  bones  and  the  prefrontal  bones 
only  in  B.  campi  and  B.  wrighti. 


found 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Erode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


1 1 


B cam  pi 


B.  stebbinsi 


B.  pad  ficus 


Figure  7.  Ventral  view  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  skull  of  four  species  of  Batrachoseps.  The  bones  are  the  premaxillaries,  maxillaries,  and  vomers.  Teeth 
not  indicated.  Same  scale  as  Figure  6. 


largest  cleared  specimen  (41.0  SL)  has  32  (a  total  of  34  post- 
sacrals)  and  larger  specimens  reasonably  could  be  expected  to 
have  more.  In  B.  wrighti,  also  relatively  short-tailed,  as  many  as 
38  caudal  vertebrae  are  present. 

The  limbs  of  B.  campi  are  stouter  than  those  of  most  other 
Batrachoseps  but  are  of  about  the  same  relative  length  as  those  of 
B.  stebbinsi.  In  osteological  detail  they  are  very  similar  to  those 
of  the  more  generalized  species  of  Batrachoseps  (Fig.  8).  The 
tibial  spur  is  well  developed  in  B.  campi.  This  structure  is  absent 
in  many  populations  of  B.  attenuatus,  but  is  characteristically 
present  in  other  species.  Wake  (1966)  reported  that  all  species  of 
Batrachoseps  except  B.  wrighti  and  some  populations  of  B. 
paciftcus  (these  particular  populations  are  now  referred  to  B. 
major,  following  Brame  and  Murray  1968)  have  seven  rather 
than  the  primitive  plethodontid  number  of  eight  carpal  elements 
as  the  result  of  fusion  of  the  ulnare  and  intermedium  cartilages. 
We  have  found  eight  carpals  in  some  B.  major  and  in  most 
specimens  of  B.  wrighti,  but  other  members  of  these  species  have 
seven.  All  populations  of  Batrachoseps  have  eight  tarsal  ele- 
ments. B.  campi  has  seven  carpals  and  eight  tarsals.  The  usual 
phalangeal  formula  in  Batrachoseps  is  1-2- 3- 2 for  both  hand 
and  foot,  but  Wake  (1966)  and  Brame  (1970)  report  0-2- 3- 2 
rarely  in  B.  attentuatus.  Brame  and  Murray  (1968)  and  Brame 
(1970)  also  indicate  that  B.  stebbinsi  and  B.  aridus  differ  from 


other  species  in  lacking  a phalanx  on  the  first  digit  of  the  hand 
and  foot.  A small  terminal  phalanx  is  present  on  the  first  digit 
of  the  hand  in  four  of  five  specimens  examined  of  B.  aridus,  and 
on  the  first  digit  of  the  foot  in  two  of  these  specimens.  Extremely 
small  phalanges  that  do  not  appear  on  radiographs  are  present  on 
the  first  digit  of  both  hands  and  feet  in  all  nine  specimens  of 
cleared  B.  stebbinsi  available  to  us.  These  are  often  only  dots  of 
mineralized  tissue,  and  in  one  foot  in  each  of  two  specimens  no 
sign  of  a phalanx  is  seen.  Terminal  phalanges  of  the  first  digit  are 
also  greatly  reduced  in  B simatus,  and  in  one  foot  of  one  indi- 
vidual (of  a total  of  13)  this  phalanx  is  absent.  In  B.  campi  the 
hands  and  feet  are  relatively  large  and  stout.  The  generalized  pha- 
langeal formula  is  present.  The  first  phalanx  is  well  developed 
and  discrete.  Phalanges  are  especially  well  ossified  with  rela- 
tively little  cartilage,  especially  in  large  adults  (Fig.  8).  Expan- 
sion of  the  most  terminal  phalanx  of  each  digit  is  characteristic  of 
all  species  of  Batrachoseps,  including  B.  campi. 

EVOLUTIONARY  RELATIONSHIPS:  Those  of  us  who  discov- 
ered B.  campi  were  impressed  immediately  with  its  robustness 
and  its  relatively  short  body  and  tail.  We  thought  it  might  be  a 
representative  of  Hydromantes  or  some  other  genus,  and  did  not 
think  of  assigning  the  new  species  to  Batrachoseps  until  we 
noticed  that  it  had  but  four  toes.  The  species  is  hardly  a typical 
Batrachoseps,  as  that  taxon  has  been  understood,  and  its  discov- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


12 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


B.  stebbinsi 


Figure  8.  Feet  of  four  species  of  Batrachoseps,  drawn  from  cleared  and  stained  specimens  with  aid  of  microprojector.  Cartilage  stippled. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrcichoseps) 


13 


ery  forces  us  to  re-evaluate  the  status  of  the  genus. 

In  several  morphological  features  B.  campi  approaches 
hypothesized  ancestral  states  for  the  entire  tribe  Bolitoglossini 
(Batrachoseps,  Hydromantes , and  the  tropical  salamander 
groups  in  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa-Pseudoeurycea,  Chirop- 
terotriton,  Oedipina,  Thorius,  Lineatriton,  Parvimolge,  and 
Bolitoglossa).  The  species  is  more  generalized  than  other  Batra- 
choseps in  osteology  and  myology  as  well  as  in  external  form. 
Features  in  which  it  retains  ancestral  conditions  as  compared  to 
existing  conditions  in  Hydromantes  include  presence  of  pre- 
frontals  and  of  genioglossal  muscles.  It  matches  Hydromantes  in 
having  paired  premaxillaries.  The  paired  premaxillaries  distin- 
guish it  from  all  described  species  of  the  supergenus  Bolitoglos- 
sa. Only  the  absence  of  a fifth  toe  (including  tarsal,  metatarsal 
and  phalanges)  and  the  presence  of  a fontanelle  in  the  skull  roof 
remove  B.  campi  from  the  presumed  ancestral  state  for  the  tribe 
Bolitoglossini  (for  comparative  data  see  Wake  1966). 

Perhaps  B.  campi  is  a very  early  derivative  of  the  ancestral 
stock  of  all  boiitoglossines,  representing  a lineage  that  appeared 
shortly  after  the  differentiation  of  the  Batrachoseps  stock  from  a 
more  generalized  ancestral  group.  The  superficial  similarity  of  B. 
campi  to  members  of  such  genera  as  Hydromantes,  Chirop- 
terotriton,  and  Pseudoeurycea  may  reflect  the  great  conservatism 
inherent  in  these  relatively  ancient  lineages.  Nevertheless  B. 
campi  can  rather  easily  be  accommodated  in  the  genus  Batracho- 
seps so  long  as  B.  wrighti  is  also  included.  The  close  relationship 
of  B.  campi  to  other  species  of  Batrachoseps  rather  than  to  other 
boiitoglossines  is  evident,  based  on  the  number  and  nature  of 
derived  features  that  are  shared.  It  is  in  ancestral  features  that  B. 
campi  resembles  members  of  other  genera. 

The  discovery  of  B.  campi  and  knowledge  of  its  structure  tend 
to  make  the  tribe  Bolitoglossini  a somewhat  tighter  unit  than 
formerly  perceived.  However,  no  new  insight  is  provided  into 
relationships  of  Batrachoseps  as  a unit  relative  to  Hydromantes 
and  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa.  There  is  no  reason  to  modify 
the  conclusions  of  Wake  (1966)  that  Batrachoseps  is  cladistically 
closer  to  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa  than  to  Hydromantes.  The 
single  most  important  piece  of  evidence  is  the  derived  karyotype 
of  Batrachoseps  and  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa,  both  groups 
having  a haploid  chromosome  number  of  13  as  opposed  to  the  14 
chromosomes  characteristic  of  Hydromantes  and  all  other  pletho- 
dontids  (Kezer  1964;  Kezer  and  Macgregor  1971;  Morescalchi 
1975). 

Certain  specialized  and  presumably  derived  morphological 
conditions  are  shared  by  B.  campi  with  all  other  members  of  the 
genus  Batrachoseps.  Accordingly  we  conclude  that  the  species  is 
most  appropriately  associated  with  Batrachoseps.  These  features 
include:  (1)  the  hyobranchial  apparatus  and  musculature,  specifi- 
cally a genioglossus  muscle  that  takes  its  origin  near  the  posterior 
end  of  the  mandible.  This  arrangement  of  the  muscle  is  unique  to 
Batrachoseps  (Piatt  1935;  Wake  1966;  Lombard  and  Wake 
1977).  Further,  in  all  other  features  of  the  apparatus  the  species  is 
like  other  Batrachoseps  rather  than  like  any  other  genus.  (2)  A 
distinct  fontanelle  is  present  in  the  skull  roof,  bordered  by 
markedly  narrowed  frontals  and  parietals.  No  comparable  fon- 
tanelle is  found  in  any  other  salamander.  Thorius  has  a smaller 
fontanelle  involving  narrowed  frontals  but  its  parietals  have  pro- 
portions typical  of  less  specialized  genera. 

Some  derived  features  occur  in  B.  campi  and  other  species  of 
Batrachoseps  which  either  are  less  distinctive  than  those  men- 
tioned above,  or  are  not  exclusively  present  in  Batrachoseps. 


These  add  strength  to  the  case  for  inclusion  of  B.  campi  in  the 
genus.  The  characters  include:  ( 1 ) A strongly  developed  lateral 
spur  on  the  parietal  bone.  This  spur  is  shaped  like  that  in  other 
Batrachoseps,  but  spurs  of  a somewhat  different  shape  are  also 
present  in  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa  (Wake  1966).  (2)  The 
number  of  caudosabral  vertebrae  may  be  either  two  or  three  in  a 
given  population.  Typically  plethodontid  species  have  either  two 
or  three  vertebrae  in  this  region,  and  only  in  Batrachoseps  does 
intrapopulational  and  intraspecific  variation  occur  (Wake  1966). 
(3)  Four  digits  present  on  the  hind  foot.  All  other  plethodontids 
have  five  digits  on  the  hind  foot,  except  Hemidactylium  scutatum 
and  Eurycea  quadridigitata,  both  distinctly  different  from  Batra- 
choseps in  many  features.  (4)  A haploid  chromosome  number  of 
13  (see  Appendix). 

Within  the  genus,  B.  campi  is  the  most  generalized  species  in 
having  superficial  structure  similar  to  that  of  other  generalized 
plethodontids  and  a number  of  osteological  characters  present  in 
ancestral  states.  These  latter  features  include  notably  the  paired 
premaxillary  bones,  the  prefrontal  bones,  and  the  preorbital  pro- 
cesses of  the  vomers.  Only  in  large,  presumably  old  B.  wrighti 
do  these  features  appear  in  combination,  and  the  first  two  charac- 
ters are  found  only  in  B.  campi  and  B.  wrighti.  All  three  charac- 
ters are  related  to  degree  of  morphogenesis  (see  Wake  1966,  for  a' 
lengthy  discussion  of  this  issue).  In  plethodontids  that  have  a 
larval  stage,  all  three  features  are  associated  with  metamorphosis, 
making  their  appearance  at  about  that  time.  There  is  no  meta- 
morphosis in  a technical  sense  in  Batrachoseps  and  other  sala- 
manders with  direct  development,  and  the  changes  which  ordinar- 
ily occur  during  the  relatively  short  metamorphic  period  are 
spread  out  over  the  entire  life  span  of  these  organisms.  In  most 
species  of  Batrachoseps  the  metamorphic  features  listed  above 
are  delayed  in  appearance  to  such  an  extent  that  the  life  span  of 
the  organism  is  insufficiently  long  for  them  to  appear.  According 
to  this  interpretation,  metamorphosis  of  these  structural  features 
occurs  early  in  B.  campi,  late  or  not  at  all  in  B.  wrighti,  and 
never  in  other  species  of  Batrachoseps. 

It  can  be  argued  that  B.  campi  is  primitive  in  respect  to  its 
entire  pattern  of  development  (i.e. , it  is  the  least  paedomorphic), 
and  that  one  should  not  “count”  three  primitive  states,  but  only 
one.  However  one  counts,  B.  campi  seems  to  qualify  as  the  most 
primitive  species.  In  addition  to  its  primitive  osteological  charac- 
ters, B.  campi  has  external  proportions  that  are  more  similar  to 
those  of  generalized  plethodontids  than  are  those  of  any  of  the 
other  species  of  Batrachoseps.  Its  broad  head,  long  limbs,  rela- 
tively short  trunk,  and  short  tail  are  all  generalized  features. 

It  is  unclear  what  the  closest  relatives  of  B campi  might  be. 
Osteological  and  chromosomal  comparisons  suggest  that  B. 
wrighti  is  the  closest  relative.  In  addition  to  the  features  dis- 
cussed above,  both  species  have  relatively  low  numbers  of  trunk 
vertebrae.  Those  features  which  separated,  campi  and  B.  wrighti 
from  other  Batrachoseps  are  more  striking  than  those  which  sep- 
arate some  other  genera  of  salamanders  within  the  family  (Wake 
1966).  We  considered  placing  B.  wrighti  and  B.  campi  in  the 
resurrected  genus  Plethopsis  (Bishop  1937;  see  also  Stebbins  and 
Lowe  1949).  However,  Plethopsis  would  have  to  be  founded  on 
the  basis  of  a suite  of  primitive  characters,  and  given  the  difficul- 
ties in  deciding  whether  we  are  dealing  with  one  general  meta- 
morphic event  or  several  independently  evolving  characters  we 
believe  that  it  is  advisable  to  keep  the  genus  intact.  In  fact,  there 
are  reasons  for  thinking  that  B.  campi  might  be  more  closely 
related  to  some  other  species  than  B.  wrighti.  B.  aridus  is  much 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


14 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


Figure  9.  Map  of  eastern  California  showing  the  two  localities  of  Batrachoseps  campi.  The  closest  locality  for  B.  stebbinsi  is  indicated  by  an  asterisk. 
Deep  Canyon,  Riverside  County,  California,  is  the  only  other  desert  locality  for  plethodontid  salamanders  (B.  aridus ) and  it  is  indicated  on  the  inset  map. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


15 


Figure  10.  Aerial  photograph  of  the  two  localities  for  Batrachoseps  campi.  Note  the  scant  vegetation.  FS,  French  Spring;  LJC,  Long  John  Canyon.  Photo 
courtesy  of  the  USGS. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17 


16 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


smaller  than/?,  campi,  but  in  many  proportions  it  is  rather  similar 
(Fig.  4).  Further,  the  color  patterns  in  the  two  species  are  some- 
what similar,  and  differ  from  those  in  all  other  species.  Oste- 
ology provides  the  only  certain  means  of  separating  these  two 
species  on  other  than  size-related  grounds.  B.  campi  is  matched 
in  some  aspects  of  size  by  B.  pacificus,  but  the  species  are  highly 
distinct  osteologically.  Further,  B.  pacificus  has  the  characteristic 
striped  dorsal  pattern  that  is  seen  in  all  species  except  B.  aridus 
and  B.  campi.  Both  B.  stebbinsi  and  B.  pacificus  have  propor- 
tions more  similar  toB.  campi  than  any  species  except  B.  aridus. 

The  presence  of  B.  campi  and  B.  aridus  in  remote  and  totally 
isolated  desert  habitats  raises  questions  concerning  historical  bio- 
geography of  this  region.  The  animals  survive  in  highly  restricted 
microhabitats  surrounded  by  seemingly  uninhabitable  desert 
(Figs.  9 and  10).  Both  species  must  utilize  underground  retreats. 
Possibly  they  can  travel  for  some  distance  through  crevices  and 
solution  channels  in  limestone  formations.  Brame  (1970)  reports 
limestone  at  the  type  locality  of  B.  aridus.  While  limestone  out- 
crops are  not  obvious  in  the  two  localities  of  B.  campi,  in  parts  of 
the  southern  Inyo  Mountains  near  these  localities  fossil-bearing 
marine  shales  and  limestones  of  Triassic  age  are  found  in  sections 
up  to  1,800  ft  (about  550  m)  thick.  These  rocks  are  exposed  in 
many  sites  now  and  presumably  they  have  been  for  long  periods 
in  the  past  (Oakeshott  1971).  The  desert  species  of  Batrachoseps 
are  unlikely  to  be  Pleistocene  relics,  stranded  in  areas  of  favor- 
able habitat  which  they  reached  during  pluvial  stages.  More 
likely,  these  species  have  been  occupying  habitats  associated 
with  exposures  of  these  ancient  rocks  for  a long  period,  perhaps 
since  early  Tertiary  times.  They  may  have  maintained  themselves 
in  favorable  microhabitats  through  many  cycles  of  heating  and 
cooling,  moistening  and  drying.  Had  they  entered  desert  habitats 
during  Pleistocene  pluvial  periods,  they  would  have  dispersed 
from  somewhere.  There  are  no  extant  populations  in  California 
that  could  have  served  as  ancestors  for  either  B.  aridus  or  B. 
campi,  and  it  seems  unlikely  that  these  ancestors  all  would  have 
become  extinct  or  given  rise  to  such  species  as  B.  stebbinsi  in  the 
relatively  short  time  since  even  the  beginning  of  Pleistocene. 

Finally  we  note  that  salamanders  recently  have  been  collected 
in  a number  of  canyons  in  parts  of  the  Inyo  Mountains  other  than 
those  mentioned  here.  These  populations  are  under  intense  study 
currently. 

PROTECTIVE  MEASURES 

Long  John  Canyon  and  French  Spring  are  within  the  bound- 
aries of  National  Resource  Lands  administered  by  the  Bureau  of 
Land  Management.  Vehicle  travel  in  the  area  currently  is  permit- 
ted only  on  roads  and  trails  established  prior  to  November  1, 
1973.  Both  springs  are  Public  Water  Reserves.  Water  cannot  be 
appropriated,  and  no  camping  is  allowed  within  150  m of  the 
water. 

Better  protection  for  these  populations  would  be  afforded  if 
Long  John  Canyon  in  the  area  of  the  spring  were  closed  to  vehi- 
cles, and  the  habitat  areas  in  both  Long  John  Canyon  and  French 
Spring  were  withdrawn  from  potential  mining.  Due  to  its  small 
range  and  limited  habitat,  B.  campi  qualifies  as  “rare”  and 
should  be  afforded  protection  under  state  law. 

Feral  horses  and  burros  have  caused  massive  destruction  to  the 
vegetation  and  soils  surrounding  desert  springs  and  water  courses 
in  the  Southwest.  Burros  are  established  in  the  Inyo  Mountains 
and  the  United  States  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service  and  the  Califor- 


nia Resources  Agency  should  assess  their  impact  and  take  steps 
to  reduce  or  eliminate  damage.  Those  springs  in  the  area  where 
horses  and  burros  presently  occur  should  be  carefully  surveyed 
for  other  populations  of  salamanders. 

The  California  Resources  Agency  and  other  agencies  should 
re-evaluate  the  practice  of  opening  and  clearing  desert  springs, 
often  with  explosives,  for  the  enhancement  of  habitat  for  upland 
game  and  other  animals.  The  manipulation  of  fragile  desert  seep, 
spring,  and  stream  communities  for  any  reason  should  proceed 
only  after  rigorous  investigation  of  the  consequences  of  the  an- 
ticipated activities. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

We  are  grateful  to  Robert  C.  Stebbins  for  his  advice  and 
review  of  the  manuscript.  Samuel  S.  Sweet  and  Kay  P.  Yanev 
reviewed  an  early  version  of  the  manuscript,  and  James  L.  Patton 
offered  helpful  criticism.  Arden  H.  Brame,  Jr.  discussed 
aspects  of  the  research  with  us  and  presented  information  con- 
cerning specimens  collected  by  him.  Materials  from  the  Natural 
History  Museum,  Los  Angeles  County,  were  kindly  loaned  by 
John  W.  Wright  and  Robert  L.  Bezy.  We  thank  James  Kezer  for 
supplying  information  concerning  his  work  on  salamander 
chromosomes,  and  for  permitting  us  to  report  some  of  his  obser- 
vations. Gene  M.  Christman  of  the  Museum  of  Vertebrate  Zool- 
ogy drafted  the  figures.  Aspects  of  this  work  were  supported  by 
the  California  Resources  Agency,  the  Bureau  of  Land  Manage- 
ment, the  Committee  on  Research  of  the  University  of  California, 
Berkeley,  and  the  National  Science  Foundation  (grant  BMS 
74-20922). 

APPENDIX 

Chromosomes  of  Batrachoseps  campi 

James  Kezer  has  studied  the  chromosomes  of  a single  B.  campi 
and  has  graciously  provided  the  following  information  which  he 
has  encouraged  us  to  present  as  part  of  the  description  of  this 
species.  For  some  years  Prof.  Kezer  has  been  accumulating 
information  concerning  the  chromosomes  of  members  of  the 
genus  Batrachoseps,  and  comparative  data  derive  from  this  work. 

Chromosomes  of  B.  campi  were  obtained  from  the  testes  of  an 
adult  male.  The  testes  were  fixed  in  three  parts  absolute  ethanol 
and  one  part  glacial  acetic  acid.  Testes  were  squashed  in  45  per 
cent  acetic  acid  and  spermatocytes  were  examined  for  chromo- 
somes. Unstained  slides  were  photographed  using  phase-contrast 
optics.  Data  were  derived  from  anaphase  cells  of  the  second 
meiotic  division.  Two  haploid  sets  of  chromosomes  from  one 
such  cell  (Fig.  11)  were  the  source  of  quantitative  data  (Table  2) 
used  to  construct  an  ideogram  (Fig.  12). 

The  haploid  chromosome  number  of  B.  campi  is  13.  This  is 
the  same  number  found  in  other  species  of  Batrachoseps  and  in 
the  tropical  salamanders  of  the  supergenus  Bolitoglossa  (Kezer 
and  Macgregor  1971;  Leon  and  Kezer  1978).  All  other  pletho- 
dontids  that  have  been  examined,  including  the  remaining  bolito- 
glossine  genus  Hydromantes,  have  a haploid  number  of  14 
chromosomes. 

The  karyotype  of  B.  campi  has  two  chromosomes  having  cen- 
tromeres in  subterminal  regions  (numbers  6 and  13,  Fig.  12).  In 
B.  attenuatus  and  B.  major  centromeres  are  all  in  median  and 
submedian  regions,  but  B.  wrighti  has  two  chromosomes  with 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Marlow,  Brode,  Wake:  New  Salamander  (Batrachoseps) 


17 


Figure  11.  Late  anaphase  II  chromosome  preparation  of  Batrachoseps 
campi,  prepared  and  photographed  by  James  Kezer.  Unstained  squash 
The  chromosomes  of  this  photomicrograph  were  used  in  preparing  Table 
2 and  Figure  12. 


Figure  12.  Ideogram  of  haploid  chromosome  set  of  Batrachoseps  campi 
based  on  data  in  Table  2. 

subterminal  centromeres  (see  Kezer  1964,  Fig.  7A.16).  Informa- 
tion is  not  available  for  other  species  of  Batrachoseps.  At  present 
not  enough  information  is  available  to  determine  homologies  of 
salamander  chromosomes.  Should  the  two  subterminal  chromo- 
somes of  B.  campi  prove  to  be  homologous  with  those  of  B. 
wrighti,  and  should  they  represent  derived  conditions,  the 
hypothesized  close  relationship  of  the  two  species  would  gain 
additional  support. 


LITERATURE  CITED 

Bateman,  P.C.  and  C.  Wahrhaftig.  1966.  Geology  of  the 
Sierra  Nevada.  Geology  of  northern  California,  Calif.  Div. 
Mines  Bull.  190:107-  172. 

Bishop,  S.C.  1937.  A remarkable  new  salamander  from  Oregon. 
Herpetologica  1:92-95. 

Brame,  A.H.,  Jr  1964.  Distribution  of  the  Oregon  slender 
salamander,  Batrachoseps  wrighti  (Bishop).  Bull.  So.  Calif. 
Acad.  Sci.  63:165-170. 

. 1970.  A new  species  of  Batrachoseps  (slender  sala- 
mander) from  the  desert  of  southern  California.  Nat.  Hist. 
Mus.  Los  Angeles  Co.,  Contrib.  Sci.  200:1-11. 

AND  K.F.  Murray.  1968.  Three  new  slender  salaman- 
ders (Batrachoseps)  with  a discussion  of  relationships  and 
speciation  within  the  genus.  Nat.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles 
Co.,  Bull.  4:1-35. 

, M.C.  Long  and  A. A.  Chiri  1973.  Defensive  display 

of  the  desert  slender  salamander.  Herpeton,  J.  SW.  Herpt. 
Soc.  8:1-3. 

Kezer,  J.  1964.  Meiosis  in  salamander  spermatocytes,  pp. 
101-114  in  Stahl,  F.W.  Mechanics  of  Inheritance. 
Prentice-Hall,  Inc.,  Englewood  Cliffs,  N.J.  xii  + 171  pp. 

AND  H.C.  MACGREGOR  1971.  A fresh  look  at  meiosis 

and  centromeric  heterochromatin  in  the  red-back  sala- 
mander, Plethodon  cinereus  cinereus  (Green).  Chromosoma 
(Berl.)  33:146-166. 

Lombard,  R.E.  and  David  B.  Wake.  1977.  Tongue  evolution 
in  the  lungless  salamanders,  family  Plethodontidae.  II. 
Function  and  evolutionary  diversity.  J.  Morph.  153:39-80. 
LeOn,  P.E.  and  J.  Kezer.  1978.  Localization  of  5S  RNA  genes 
on  chromosomes  of  plethodontid  salamanders.  Chromosoma 
(Berl.),  65:213-230. 

Lynch,  J.F.  and  D.B.  Wake.  1975.  The  systematics  of  the  Chi- 
ropterotriton  bromeliacia  group  (Amphibia:  Caudata),  with 
description  of  two  new  species  from  Guatemala.  Nat.  Hist. 
Mus.  Los  Angeles  Co.,  Contrib.  Sci.  265:1-45. 
Morescalchi,  A.  1975.  Chromosome  evolution  in  the  caudate 
amphibia.  Evolutionary  Biology  8:339-387. 

OAKESHOTT,  G.B.  1971.  California's  Changing  Landscapes. 

McGraw-Hill  Book  Co.,  N.Y.  xix  + 388  pp. 

Piatt,  J.  1935.  A comparative  study  of  the  hyobranchial  appa- 
ratus and  throat  musculature  of  the  Plethodontidae.  J. 
Morph.  57:213-251. 

Stebbins,  R.C.  and  C.H.  Lowe.  Jr  1949.  The  systematic  status 
of  Plethopsis  with  a discussion  of  speciation  in  the  genus 
Batrachoseps.  Copeia  1949:116-129. 

Wake,  D.B.  1966.  Comparative  osteology  and  evolution  of  the 
lungless  salamanders,  family  Plethodontidae.  Mem.  So. 
Calif.  Acad.  Sci.  4:1-111. 

Accepted  for  publication  October  17,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  308:1-17. 


Number  50.9 
iii  16,  1979 


I NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNT1! 


2 


NOTES  FOR  A REVISION  OF  THE  ANT  GENUS  FORMICA. 

. REIDENTIFICATIONS  FOR  SOME  SPECIMENS  FROM  THE  T.  W.  COOK 
COLLECTION  AND  NEW  DISTRIBUTION  DATA 
W (HYMENOPTERA:  FORMICIDAE). 


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By  Andre  Francoeur  and  Roy  R.  Snelftng 


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SERIAL  PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE 
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Number  309 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


NOTES  FOR  A REVISION  OF  THE  ANT  GENUS  FORMICA. 

2.  REIDENTIFICATIONS  FOR  SOME  SPECIMENS  FROM  THE  T.  W.  COOK 
COLLECTION  AND  NEW  DISTRIBUTION  DATA 
(HYMENOPTERA:  FORMICIDAE). 


By  Andre  Francoeur  and  Roy  R.  Snelling 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Conlrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mas.  Los  Angeles  Count}’.  1979.  309:1-7. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus . Los  Angeles  County.  1979.309:1—7. 


3 


NOTES  FOR  A REVISION  OF  THE  ANT  GENUS  FORMICA. 

2.  REIDENTIFICATIONS  FOR  SOME  SPECIMENS  FROM  THE  T.W.  COOK 
COLLECTION  AND  NEW  DISTRIBUTION  DATA 
(HYMENOPTERA:  FORMICIDAE).1 

By  Andre  Francoeur2 
and  Roy  R.  Snelling3 


ABSTRACT:  Specimens  of  the  Formica  neogagates  and  Formica  fusca  groups  from  the  T.W.  Cook  collec- 
tion are  reidentified.  New  morphological  variations  are  presented  for  F.  longipilosa,  together  with  a first 
description  of  the  male.  Some  of  these  data  extend  the  geographical  distribution  of  the  less  well  known  species 
particularly  in  California. 


“The  Ants  of  California”  was  privately  published  by  Thomas 
Wrentmore  Cook  in  1953.  This  was  Cook’s  only  published  work  on 
ants  and  it  does  no  credit  to  a many-faceted  man.  The  book  consists, 
for  the  most  part,  of  records  and  descriptive  and  biological  notes 
gleaned  from  previously  published  work  of  other  authors.  These 
applied,  for  the  most  part,  to  California  forms,  but  no  effort  was 
made  to  correct  records  based  on  misidentified  specimens.  The 
present  paper  reveals  so  many  surprising  misidentifications  and 
misinterpretations  in  Formica  species  or  species  groups,  that  it 
becomes  impossible  to  use  any  data  from  "The  Ants  of  California” 
without  having  the  specimens  at  hand. 

Furthermore,  the  drawings  illustrating  the  book  are  misleading  or 
inaccurate:  the  head  of  Formica  subnuda  (p.  368)  and  the  mesosoma 
of  F.  occidua  (p.  385)  are  erroneously  proportioned;  the  "female” 
head  of  F.  subsericea  (p.  368)  is  that  of  a male;  the  maxillary  palpi  of 
F.  sibylla  (p.  392)  are  too  short;  the  figure  of  F.  subpolita  cam- 
ponoticeps  (p.  392)  is  a worker  of  F.  neoritfibarbis. 

Numerous  other  deficiencies  are  pointed  out  by  Brown  and 
Wilson  (1953). 

Cook  died  in  1962.  In  1964  his  collection  was  donated  to  the 
Oakland  Museum  by  his  widow.  The  ants  were  transferred  to  the 
Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County  in  1971.  There 
were  4,397  pinned  ant  specimens  and  an  undetermined  number  in 
213  vials  (Amaud  and  Wale  1973).  Almost  half  of  the  pinned 
material  consisted  of  specimens  from  W.  M.  Wheeler’s  collection 
acquired  during  a brief  stay  at  Harvard.  Most  of  the  remainder  were 
specimens  from  the  collections  of  Stanford  University,  still  bearing 
the  distinctive  “L.S.  Jr.  U.”  labels.  The  Stanford  University 
specimens  were  collected  mostly  by  W.M.  Mann.  The  specimens  in 
vials  were,  in  large  part,  collected  by  Cook.  Judging  by  the  number 
of  specimens  clearly  collected  by  Cook  and  by  the  localities  visited, 
he  had  a very  limited  first  hand  acquaintance  with  the  ants  of 
California. 

The  present  note  attempts  first  of  all  to  clarify  some  of  the 
erroneous  citations  in  "The  Ants  of  California."  We  also  cite  new 
distributional  and  morphological  data,  particularly  on  several 


species  in  the  F.  fusca  group  described  recently  by  the  senior 
author  (Francoeur  1973).  A few  specimens,  cited  as  various  forms 
of  Formica,  belong  to  other  genera  and  are  noted  at  the  end  of 
this  paper. 

The  following  abbreviations  are  used:  LSJU  (Leland  Stanford  Jr. 
University);  TWC  (T.W.  Cook);  WMM  (W.M.  Mann);  WMW 
(W.M.  Wheeler). 

FORMICA  NEOGAGATES  GROUP 
Neogagates  complex 
Formica  lasioides  Emery 

Formica  neogagates  lasioides:  Cook,  1953,  p.  360 
Formica  neogagates  lasioides  var.  vetula:  id.  p.  361 
Formica  fusca  fusca:  id.  (in  part),  p.  371 
Formica  subpolita  var.  camponoticeps:  id.  (in  part),  p.  397 
Labelled  neogagates  lasioides  var.  vetula:  3 9 from  Pacific  Grove 
(WMM),  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  4 9 from  Quincy  (TWC),  CALIF. 
Labelled  fusca:  I $ , 3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 

Labelled  subpolita  camponoticeps:  19,59  from  Glacier  Point, 
Yosemite,  CALIF. 

Unidentified:  4 9 from  Eagle  Creek  (LSJU),  1 9 from  Oswego 
(Duncan),  2 9 from  Rowena  (LSJU),  ORE.;  6 9 from  Big  Lagoon, 
Humboldt  Co.,  5 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  9 9 from  Mirror  Lake,  elev. 
4096  ft.,  CALIF. 


1 Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Jack  C.  Hall 
Charles  L.  Hogue 
G.C.  Wheeler 

2Universite  du  Quebec,  Chicoutimi,  Quebec,  Canada  G7H  2B1 

3Section  of  Entomology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County, 
900  Exposition  Blvd. , Los  Angeles,  CA  90007 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  309:1-7. 


4 


Snelling:  Ant  Genus  Formica 


Formica  neogagates  Emery 

Unidentified:  5 9 from  Ithaca,  N.  Y.;  13  9 from  Pullman,  WASH. 
(WMM). 

Obtusipilosa  COMPLEX 

Formica  perpilosa  Wheeler 

Labelled  Formica:  4 9 from  Santa  Clara  Co. , CALIF.  The  label  is 
the  same  as  on  other  specimens  from  the  Stanford  University  collec- 
tion and  they  are  surely  from  that  collection. 

FORMICA  FUSCA  GROUP 

ClNEREA  COMPLEX 

Formica  canadensis  Santschi 

Labelled  fusca  var.  argentea:  1 9 from  Colorado  Springs,  COLO. 
(E.S.  Tucker). 

Formica  pilicornis  Emery 

Formica  cinerea  var.  lepida:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  373 

Formica  pilicornis:  id.  (in  part),  p.  385 

Labelled  pilicornis:  9 9 from  South  San  Francisco  and  18  9 from 
San  Francisco,  CALIF.  (TWC). 

Labelled  cinerea  var.  lepida:  16  9 from  Saugus,  CALIF. 

Unidentified:  6 9 from  Tejon  Pass,  CALIF.  (TWC). 

NEOCLARA  COMPLEX 

Formica  neoclara  Emery 

Formica  cinerea  var.  neocinerea:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  374. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  between  neoclara  and  argentata:  3 9 from 
Pullman,  WASH.  (LSJU). 

Labelled  fusca  var.  neoclara:  4 9 from  Colorado  Springs,  COLO. 
(E.S.  Tucker). 

Labelled  fusca  var.:  5 9 from  Sisson,  CALIF.  (J.C.  Bradley). 

SUBPOLITA  COMPLEX 

Formica  subpolita  Mayr 

Formica  subpolita:  Cook,  1953,  p.  396. 

Formica  subpolita  var.  camponoticeps:  id.  (in  part),  p.  397. 

Formica  fusca  var.  marcida:  id.  (in  part),  p.  379. 

Formica  fusca  var.  neorufibarbis:  id.  (in  part),  p.  380. 

Labelled  subpolita:  8 9 from  Pacific  Grove  (WMM),  8 9 from 
Corte  Madera  Creek,  27  9 from  Greenville,  CALIF. 

Labelled  subpolita  var.  camponoticeps:  3 9 from  Yosemite,  6 9 
from  Yosemite  Falls  Top,  3 9 from  Yosemite  Village,  19,39  from 
Old  Village,  Yosemite  Valley,  15  9 from  Glacier  Point,  Yosemite,  2 9 
from  Mt.  Tamalpais,  CALIF. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  marcida:  5 9 from  Point  Joe,  near  Pacific 
Grove,  CALIF. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  neorufibarbis:  1 9 from  top  of  Mount  Wilson, 
CALIF.  (J.C.  Bradley)  together  with  1 9 of  Liometopum  sp. 

Lepida  complex 

Formica  aerata  Francoeur 

Formica  cinerea  var.  neocinerea:  Cook,  (in  part),  1953,  p.  374. 

Labelled  cinerea  var.  neocinerea:  3 9 from  Three  Rivers  (J.C. 
Bradley),  3 9 from  Sacramento  (H.S.  Smith),  1 9 from  Stanford 
University,  CALIF.  (LSJU). 

Labelled  Formica:  3 9 from  Stanford  Univ. , CALIF. 

Unidentified:  1 9 from  Santa  Clara  Co.,  CALIF.  (Harkins);  3 9 


from  3.5  mi.  south  of  Kirby,  ORE. 

Formica  lepida  Wheeler 

Unidentified:  1 9 from  Smith  River  Camp,  Del  Norte  Co. , CALIF. 
This  is  the  second  record  for  this  species. 

Formica  longipilosa  Francoeur 

Figures  1-3 

Unidentified:  20  9 and  2 6 from  Ukiah,  CALIF.  (LSJU).  These 
specimens  are  the  second  series  known  to  us.  They  provide  new  data 
on  the  morphology  of  the  workers.  The  male  is  described  here  for  the 
first  time. 

worker:  The  series  fits  the  original  description  (Francoeur  1973, 
p.  126-127).  However,  the  size  averages  somewhat  smaller:  head 
width  0.96-1.14  mm;  head  length  1.09-1.31;  eye  diameter  0.41- 
0.47;  scape  length  1.07-1.27;  trunk  length  1.59-1.84.  The  dorsal 
margin  of  petiole  less  convex,  in  one  case  feebly  and  narrowly 
excised. 

male:  First  description  based  on  two  androtypes  (in  LACM  and 
senior  author’s  collection).  General  morphology  similar  to  F.  trans- 
montanis  Francoeur,  but  averaging  smaller.  Measurements  in  mm: 
head  width  1.61-1.35;  eye  diameter  0.70-0.71;  trunk  length  3.05- 
3.20;  pronotum  width  1.56-1.65.  Head  distinctly  broader  than  long, 
occipital  margin  slightly  convex,  ocelli  small  (0.12-0.14  mm); 
clypeus  bulging,  faintly  carinated,  anterior  margin  convex;  mandi- 
ble rather  narrow  with  only  an  apical  tooth.  Petiole  low  and  thick  in 
profile,  dorsal  margin  with  large,  weak  concavity  and  rounded 
comers.  Genitalia:  posterior  half  of  parameres  more  acute  and 
larger,  with  long  hairs;  subgenital  plate  shining,  when  ventral  sur- 
face is  seen  from  above,  posterior  end  not  produced  as  in  transmon- 
tanis,  rather  straight,  with  two  concavities  separated  medially  by 
rounded  process.  Body  concolorous  brown,  antennae  paler,  legs 
yellowish  brown;  most  parts  with  dense  and  long  pubescence, 
particularly  on  anterior  dorsal  half  of  head,  pronotum,  petiole  and 
gaster;  pilosity  distributed  as  in  transmontanis  but  longer  and  finer 
especially  on  head  and  thorax. 

Formica  pacifica  Francoeur 

Unidentified:  5 9 from  Cannon  Beach  (LSJU),  3 9 from  Goble 
(LSJU),  1 alated  $ from  Umpqua  River,  Canyonville,  ORE. 

SUBSERICEA  COMPLEX 

Formica  argentea  Wheeler 

Formica  sibylla:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  393. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  argentata  or  var.  argentea:  8 9 from  Pullman, 
WASH.  (WMM). 

Labelled  fusca  var.:  2 9 2 6 , & 1 9 from  San  Juan  Island,  WASH. 
(WMM). 

Labelled  sibylla:  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 

Unidentified:  1 9 from  Boyd,  2 9 from  Linsley,  1 9 from  Rowena 
(LSJU),  7 9 from  Tygh  Valley  (LSJU),  ORE.;  1 9 from  Hewlett 
Point,  1 9 from  Prescott  (L.R.  Dice),  WASH. 

Formica  podzolica  Francoeur 

Formica  sibylla:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  393. 

Labelled  sibylla:  18  9 from  Marysville,  CALIF. 

Formica  subsericea  Say 

Unidentified:  6 9 from  Ithaca,  N.Y. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  309:1-7. 


Snelling:  Ant  Genus  Formica 


5 


Figures  1-3.  Formica  longipilosa  male  (SOX).  1,  head,  frontal  view,  without  pilosity;  2,  petiole,  lateral  view;  3,  paramere,  lateral  view. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  309:1-7. 


6 


Snelling:  Ant  Genus  Formica 


Fusca  complex 

Formica  accreta  Francoeur 

Formica  fusca  var.  subsericea:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  384. 

Formica  sibylla:  id.,  p.  393. 

Labelled  fusca  var.:  26  9 & 1 $ from  Quincy,  CALIF. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  subsericea:  3 9 from  Stinson  Beach,  CALIF. 
(TWC). 

Labelled  sibylla:  5 9 from  Mirror  Lake,  Yosemite  Valley,  2 9 from 
Glacier  Point,  Yosemite,  17  9 from  Carmel  (together  with  1 6 of 
Camponotus  sp.),  CALIF. 

Unidentified:  4 9 from  Patrick  Creek,  CALIF;  1 9 from  Oswego 
(Duncan),  2 9 from  Eagle  Creek  (LSJU),  1 9 from  Columbia 
(LSJU),  ORE. 

Formica  fusca  Linne 

Formica  neogagates  lasioides  var.  vetula:  Cook  (in  part),  1953, 
p.  360. 

Formica  fusca  fusca:  id.  (in  part),  p.  369. 

Formica  cinerea  var.  neocinerea:  id.  (in  part)  p.  373. 

Formica  fusca  var.  argentea:  id.  (in  part),  p.  375. 

Formica  sibylla:  id.  (in  part),  p.  392. 

Formica  fusca:  Francoeur,  1973,  p.  189-201. 

Specimens  classified  in  the  marcida  form: 

Labelled  cinerea  var.  neocinerea:  3 9 from  Mt.  Tamalpais, 
CALIF. 

Labelled  sibylla:  6 9 & 2 9 from  Alta  Meadow  (WMW),  2 9,19 
& 1 <5  from  Lake  Tahoe  (WMW),  CALIF. 

Labelled  neogagates  lasioides  var.  vetula:  4 9 & 1 9 from  Alta 
Meadow,  CALIF.  (WMW). 

Labelled  fusca  var.  neoclara:  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 
(WMW). 

Unidentified:  2 9 from  Yosemite,  CALIF;  1 9 from  Mt.  Hood, 
ORE.  (LSJU). 

Specimens  classified  in  the  subaenescens  form: 

Labelled  fusca:  4 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF.  (WMW). 

Labelled  /irstY/  var.  argentea:  3 9 from  Colorado  Springs,  COLO. 
(E.S.  Tucker). 

Formica  microphthalma  Francoeur 

Formica  sibylla:  Cook  (in  part),  1953,  p.  393. 

Labelled  sibylla:  5 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF.  (WMW). 

Neorufibarbis  complex 

Formica  neorufibarbis  Emery 

Formica  subpolita:  Cook  (in  part)  1953,  p.  395. 

Labelled  rufibarbis  var.  gnava.  89,3  alated  9 & 1 $ from  Lake 
Tahoe,  CALIF.  (WMW). 

Labelled  subpolita:  18  9 & 3 9 Blue  Lake,  CALIF.  (J.C.  Bradley). 

Labelled  subpolita  var.  camponoticeps:  11  9 from  Glacier  Point, 
CALIF.  (WMW). 

The  workers  of  the  above  series  are  among  the  largest  for  the 
species. 

Labelled  fusca  var.:  2 9 from  San  Juan  Isl.,  WASH. 

Unidentified:  1 9 from  Paradise  Valley,  2 9 from  Mt.  Hood,  6 9 
from  Cannon  Beach,  ORE;  1 9 from  San  Juan  Isl.,  WASH. 

Rufibarbis  complex 

Formica  foreliana  Wheeler 

Labelled  fusca  var.  gnava:  3 9 from  Ramsey  Canyon,  Huachuca 
Mts.  ARIZ.  (WMM).  These  are  topotypes. 


Formica  occidua  Wheeler 

Formica  rufibarbis  var.  occidua:  Cook  (in  part)  1953,  p.  391. 

Formica  rufa  obscuripes:  id.  (in  part),  p.  406. 

Formica  rufa  propinqua:  id.  (in  part),  p.  409. 

Formica  microgyna  californica:  id.  (in  part),  p.  413. 

Labelled  rufibarbis  var.  occidua:  1 9 from  Stanford  University,  21 
9 from  Napa  (TWC),  6 9 from  San  Rafael,  CALIF.  (TWC). 

Labelled  rufibarbis  var.  gnava:  3 9 from  Santa  Cruz  Isl.,  CALIF. 
(R.V.  Chamberlain). 

Labelled  rufa  obscuripes:  1 9 from  Marin  Co.  (TWC),  15  9 from 
Del  Monte  (TWC),  9 9 from  Santa  Cruz  Isl..  CALIF.  (R.V.  Cham- 
berlain). 

Labelled  truncicola  integroides  var.  propinqua:  4 from  Pismo 
(Beach),  and  3 9 from  Santa  Cruz  Isl.,  CALIF.  (R.V.  Chamberlain). 

Labelled  microgyna  californica:  3 9 from  Del  Monte  (TWC),  6 9 
from  Santa  Cruz  Isl.,  CALIF. 

Unidentified:  3 9 from  Cazadero  (J.C.  Bradley),  5 9 from  Garber- 
ville,  3 9 from  Santa  Cruz  Isl.  (R.V.  Chamberlain),  2 9 from  Santa 
Clara  Co.  (Harkins),  1 9 from  Berkeley,  20  9 from  Davis,  CALIF. 

Sibylla  complex 

Formica  sibylla  Wheeler 

Formica  sibylla:  Cook  (in  part),  p.  393. 

Labelled  sibylla:  3 9 from  Happy  Isles,  Yosemite  Valley,  3 9 from 
Alta  Meadow,  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 

Labelled  fusca:  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 

Without  name:  4 9 from  Glacier  Point,  CALIF. 

SPECIES  ERRONEOUSLY  CITED 
AS  FORMICA 
Subf.  DOLICHODERINAE 
Tapinoma  sessile  (Say) 

Formica  fusca  var.  marcida:  Cook  (in  part),  p.  379. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  marcida:  3 9 from  Mt.  Tallac,  Lake  Tahoe, 
CALIF. 

Subf.  FORMICINAE 
Lasius  niger  (Linne) 

Formica  neogagates  var.  lasioides:  Cook  (in  part),  p.  360. 

Labelled  neogagates  var.  lasioides:  3 9 from  Lake  Tahoe,  CALIF. 

Lasius  pal  li  tar  sis  (Provancher) 

Formica  fusca  var.  blanda:  Cook  (in  part),  p.  377. 

Labelled  fusca  var.  blanda:  6 9 from  Alta  Meadow,  CALIF. 

Myrmecocystus  mendax  Wheeler 

Formica  subpolita  camponticeps:  (in  part),  p.  397. 

Labelled  subpolita  var.  camponoticeps:  6 9 from  Hidden  Springs 
Canyon,  CALIF.  (Snelling,  1976). 

Myrmecocystus  mimicus  Wheeler 

Formica  sibylla:  Cook  (in  part),  p.  393. 

Labelled  sibylla:  2 9 from  Pasadena,  CALIF. 

In  each  of  the  above  the  specimens  cited  are  the  only  examples 
from  the  cited  localities  with  the  identification  listed.  They  are, 
therefore,  the  presumed  basis  for  the  record  in  Cook’s  book. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENT 

This  note  is  a by-product  of  grant  no.  A6501  of  the  National 
Research  Council  of  Canada. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  309:1-7. 


Snelling:  Ant  Genus  Formica 


7 


LITERATURE  CITED 

Arnaud,  PH,  Jr.  and  Wale,  Mary  M.  1963.  Thomas  Wrentmore 
Cook  (1884-1962).  Pan-Pacific  Entomol.  49:177-181. 
Brown,  W.L.  and  Wilson,  E.O.  1953.  The  Ants  of  California  by 
Thomas  W.  Cook  (Review)  Entomol.  News  64:163-164. 
Cook,  T.  W.  1953.  The  Ants  of  California,  Pacific  Books.  Palo  Alto, 
Calif.  464  pp. 


Francoeur,  A.  1973.  Revision  taxonomique  des  especes 
nearctiques  du  groupe  fusca,  genre  Formica  (Formicidae, 
Hymenoptera).  Soc.  Entomol.  Quebec,  Memoire.  no.  3,316  pp. 
Snelling,  Roy  R.  1976.  A revision  of  the  honey  ants,  genus 
Myrmecocystus.  (Hymenoptera:  Formicidae).  Los  Angeles  Co. 
Mus.  Nat.,  Sci.  Bull.  24:1-163. 

Accepted  for  publication  November  8,  1977. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  309:1-7. 


SERIAL  PUBLICATIONS  OF  THE 
NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


Prior  to  November  30.  1 973,  publications  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  have  appeared  under  various  titles  — Leaflet 
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Number  310 
March  16,  1979 

CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Methods  and  Materials  4 

Osteology  5 

Systematics  : Family  Caulophrvnidae  Regan  12 

Robia  new  genus  12 

Key  to  the  Genera  and  Species  of  the  Caulophrynidae  12 

Robia  legula  new  species  14 

Caulophryne  Goode  and  Bean  1896  14 

Caulophryne  pelagica  (Brauer  1902)  14 

Caulophryne  jordani  Goode  and  Bean  1896  15 

Caulophryne  polynema  Regan  1930  16 

Caulophryne  species  18 

Caulophryne  setosus  Goode  and  Bean  1896  nomen  nudum  20 

Caulophryne  racemosa  Monod  1960  nomen  nudum  20 

Discussion  21 

Acknowledgments  24 

Literature  Cited  24 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial,  retaining  the  name  Contribu- 
tions in  Science  and  beginning  with  Number  301. 

This  serial  has  been  newly  formatted  for  maximum  use  of  typography  and  illustrations  per  page, 
and  sized  for  maximum  use  of  paper.  All  photography  has  been  produced  utilizing  a 200-line 
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Since  most  institutions  rebind  Contributions  in  Science  collectively  into  hardbound  volumes, 
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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
History.  Science  Bulletin  (Numbers  1-30;  28  June  1965  to  10  April  1978)  and  Contributions  in  Science  (Numbers  1-300; 
23  January  1957  to  16  June  1978)  were  merged  into  a single  imperial  octavo  serial  beginning  with  Number  301. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


3 


SYSTEMATICS  AND  DISTRIBUTION  OF  CERATIOID  ANGLERFISHES  OF  THE 
FAMILY  CAULOPHRYNIDAE  WITH  THE  DESCRIPTION  OF  A NEW  GENUS  AND 

SPECIES  FROM  THE  BANDA  SEA1 

By  Theodore  W.  Pietsch2 


Abstract:  The  ceratioid  anglerfish  family  Caulophrynidae  is  revised  on  the  basis  of  all  known  material.  The 
genus  Caulophryne  is  represented  by  26  female  specimens  collected  from  all  three  major  oceans  of  the  world. 
Of  the  six  nominal  species,  three  are  recognized:  C.  pelagica,  with  C.  ramulosa  and  C.  acinosa  as  synonyms; 
C.  jordani,  with  C.  regard  as  a synonym;  and  C.  polynema.  A new  caulophrynid  genus  and  species  is 
described  from  a single  female  recently  collected  from  the  Banda  Sea.  It  differs  from  Caulophryne  in  having  a 
considerably  longer  illicium,  shorter  jaw  teeth,  and  a smaller  number  of  relatively  short  median-fin  rays.  The 
tentative  distribution  of  each  species  is  plotted,  evolutionary  relationships  are  discussed,  and  a key  to  the 
genera  and  species  of  the  family  is  provided. 

This  study  supports  a classification  of  the  Ceratioidei  in  which  the  Caulophrynidae  is  the  primitive  sister- 
group  of  the  Melanocetidae,  Himantolophidae,  Diceratiidae,  Centrophrynidae,  Oneirodidae,  and  Thaumatich- 
thyidae.  The  position  of  the  closely  related  families  Linophrynidae,  Gigantactinidae,  and  Neoceratiidae  (and 
perhaps  the  Ceratiidae)  is  unclear.  This  assemblage  is  apparently  derived  either  from  a caulophrynid-like  ances- 
tor, forming  a part  of  a sister-group  that  is  primitive  to  all  other  ceratioids,  or  it  is  derived  from  some 
oneiroidid-like  ancestor.  In  either  case,  it  is  concluded  that  sexual  parasitism  has  evolved  independently  in  at 
least  two  separate  ceratioid  lineages. 


The  ceratioid  family  Caulophrynidae  includes  globose,  bathy- 
pelagic  anglerfishes,  easily  distinguished  from  members  of  allied 
families  by  the  absence  of  an  escal  bulb,  the  presence  of  two 
pectoral  radials,  extremely  long  dorsal  and  anal  rays,  and  neuro- 
masts of  the  acoustico-lateralis  system  located  at  the  tips  of  elon- 
gate filaments.  The  only  currently  recognized  genus  of  the  family 
was  established  by  Goode  and  Bean  (1896)  with  the  description 
of  Caulophryne  jordani  based  on  a single  female  specimen  with  a 
parasitically  attached  male  collected  off  Long  Island,  New  York, 
by  the  Fisheries  Steamer  ALBATROSS . Since  this  original  publica- 
tion, five  additional  forms  have  been  described,  each  from  a sin- 
gle adolescent  or  adult  female:  C.  pelagica  (Brauer  1902);  C. 
polynema  Regan  1930;  C.  ramulosa  and  C.  acinosa  Regan  and 
Trewavas  1932;  and  C.  regard  (Roule  and  Angel  1932).  At  the 
time  of  Bertelsen’s  (1951)  monograph  on  the  Ceratioidei  the 
family  was  represented  by  only  nine  female  specimens,  one  para- 
sitic male,  a male  in  metamorphosis,  and  16  larvae.  Not  finding 
sufficient  reason  for  subdividing  this  material  into  several 
species,  Bertelsen  (1951:37)  provisionally  recognized  three  sub- 
species: C.  jordani  jordani,  representing  a western  North  Atlantic 
subspecies;  C.  jordani  pelagica,  with  C.  ramulosa  and  C. 
acinosa  as  synonyms;  and  C.  jordani  polynema,  including  C. 
regani  as  a synonym. 

The  available  material  of  Caulophryne  represents  three  species: 
C.  pelagica,  represented  by  six  female  specimens  collected  from 
the  eastern  and  Indo-west  Pacific  Ocean;  C.  jordani,  by  11 


females  from  all  three  major  oceans  of  the  world;  and  C.  poly- 
nema, known  from  eight  females  and  one  attached  male  from  the 
eastern  Pacific  and  eastern  Atlantic.  The  separation  of  these 
species  is  based  on  differences  in  dorsal  and  anal  fin  ray  counts, 
tooth  counts,  illicium  length,  and  illicial  and  escal  morphology. 

Despite  a nearly  three-fold  increase  in  the  number  of  known 
metamorphosed  female  specimens  of  Caulophryne  since  Bertel- 
sen’s (1951)  revision,  males  are  represented  by  only  three  indi- 
viduals. Two  of  these  are  parasitically  attached  adults;  the  third  is 
an  unattached  metamorphosis  stage. 

A new  caulophrynid  genus  is  also  described  in  this  paper  and 
compared  with  Caulophryne.  The  single  known  female  specimen 
of  this  new  form  is  part  of  the  extensive  midwater  collections 
made  by  Bruce  H.  Robison  of  the  Marine  Science  Institute,  Uni- 
versity of  California,  Santa  Barbara,  during  the  1975  ALPHA 
HELIX  Southeast  Asian  Bioluminescence  Expedition. 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Gerhard  Krefft 
Robert  J.  Lavenberg 
Norman  B.  Marshall 

department  of  Biology,  California  State  University,  Long  Beach,  Cali- 
fornia 90840;  and  Research  Association  in  Ichthyology,  Natural  History 
Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County,  Los  Angeles,  California  90007.  Pres- 
ent address:  College  of  Fisheries,  University  of  Washington,  Seattle, 
Washington  98195. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


4 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


METHODS  AND  MATERIALS 

Standard  lengths  (SL)  are  used  throughout.  Measurements 
were  taken  from  the  left  side  whenever  possible  and  rounded  to 
the  nearest  0.5  mm.  To  insure  accurate  fin-ray  counts,  skin  was 
removed  from  the  pectoral  fins  and  incisions  were  made  to  reveal 
the  rays  of  the  dorsal  and  anal  fins.  Sockets,  indicating  missing 
teeth  in  the  jaws  and  on  the  vomer,  were  included  in  total  tooth 
counts.  Jaw-tooth  counts  are  the  sum  of  both  left  and  right  sides. 
Head  length  is  the  distance  from  the  anterior  tip  of  the  upper  jaw 
to  the  posteriormost  margin  of  the  preoperculum.  Head  width  is 
the  distance  between  the  tips  of  the  sphenotic  spines.  Head  depth 
is  the  distance  from  the  tip  of  the  sphenotic  spine  to  the  base  of 
the  quadrate  spine.  Lower-jaw  length  is  the  distance  from  the 
symphysial  spine  to  the  posteriormost  margin  of  the  articular. 
Illicium  length  is  the  distance  from  the  articulation  of  the  pte- 
rygiophore  of  the  illicium  and  the  illicial  bone  to  the  distal  sur- 
face of  the  esca,  excluding  escal  appendages.  Lengths  given  for 


dorsal  and  anal  rays  are  estimates  of  actual  values  since  their 
distal  portions  are  nearly  always  broken  off. 

Terminology  used  in  describing  the  various  parts  of  the  angling 
apparatus  follows  Bradbury  (1967).  Definitions  of  terms  used  for 
the  different  stages  of  development  follow  Bertelsen  (1951). 

Locality  data  are  presented  for  all  specimens  examined.  Coor- 
dinates for  the  starting  position  only  of  each  trawl  are  included. 
Most  collections  were  made  with  an  open,  3-meter  Isaacs-Kidd 
midwater  trawl  (IKMT).  Material  deposited  at  the  Institut  fur 
Seefischerei,  Hamburg,  was  collected  with  a Combined  Midwater 
Bottom  Trawl,  having  a rectangular  mouth  and  a 1600  mesh  cir- 
cumference (CMBT-1600).  This  and  similar  gear  are  described 
more  fully  by  SchMe  (1966,  1969).  Material  from  the  Institute 
of  Oceanographic  Sciences,  Surrey,  England,  was  collected  with 
a Rectangular  Midwater  Trawl,  mouth  area  eight  square  meters, 
mesh  size  five  millimeters  (RMT  8/5),  equipped  with  an  opening 
and  closing  device  (Clark  1969). 

Material  used  for  the  osteological  investigation  (two  female 


Figure  1.  Dorsal  view  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


5 


PTEROTIC 


Figure  2.  Lateral  view  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


Caulophryne  jordani,  41.0-68.0  mm)  was  cleared  and  stained 
with  alizarin  red  S following  the  trypsin  digestion  technique 
(Taylor  1967).  In  many  cases  dissections  were  made  of  uncleared 
specimens  to  confirm  observations  made  on  cleared  and  stained 
specimens  and  to  determine  ontogenetic  changes.  Bone  terminol- 
ogy follows  Pietsch  (1972a)  and  Nybelin  (1963).  In  osteological 
drawings  cartilage  is  stippled,  and  where  necessary  for  clarity, 
open  spaces  are  rendered  in  solid  black. 

Unless  otherwise  indicated,  all  diagnoses  and  descriptions  are 
based  on  females.  For  males  and  larvae  see  Bertelsen 
(1951:31-38).  Material  is  deposited  in  the  following  museums 
and  Institutions: 

BMNH:  British  Museum  (Natural  History),  London. 

IOAN:  Institute  of  Oceanography,  Academy  of  Sciences  of  the 

USSR,  Moscow. 

IOS:  Institute  of  Oceanographic  Sciences,  Surrey,  England 

(formerly  the  National  Institute  of  Oceanography). 

ISH:  Institut  fur  Seefischerei,  Hamburg. 

LACM:  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles  County. 

MCZ:  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology,  Harvard  University. 

MOM:  Musee  Oceanographique  de  Monaco. 

ROM:  Royal  Ontario  Museum,  Toronto. 

USNM:  National  Museum  of  Natural  History,  Washington. 
ZMB:  Zoologisches  Museum  der  Humboldt-Universitat,  Ber- 

lin. 

ZMUC:  Zoological  Museum,  University  of  Copenhagen. 

OSTEOLOGY 

Figures  1-13 

The  osteology  of  Caulophryne  was  partially  described  by 


Regan  (1926:16,  fig.  7),  Regan  and  Trewavas  (1932:42,  figs. 
56-58),  and  Bertelsen  (1951:31,  fig.  8).  In  the  following 
account,  only  those  comparative  aspects  that  need  amending  or 
that  have  not  previously  appeared  in  the  literature  are  discussed. 

Cranium  (Figs.  1-6):  the  ethmoid  cartilage  of  Caulophryne 
broadly  covers  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  vomer,  extending  beyond 
the  margins  of  this  bone  on  all  sides.  Anteriorly  and  laterally  the 
head  of  the  vomer  turns  upward  to  cup  the  ethmoid  cartilage.  The 
ventral  surface  of  the  vomer  may  bear  as  many  as  five,  recurved 
and  depressible  teeth  arranged  in  a transverse  row. 

In  oneirodids  (Pietsch  1974a:8,  figs.  1,  4)  the  symphysial  carti- 
lage of  the  upper  jaw  butts  up  against  a nearly  vertical  supraeth- 
moid  bone.  In  contrast,  backward  movement  of  the  upper  jaw  of 
Caulophryne  is  limited  by  the  lateral  extensions  of  the  vomer;  an 
elongate,  narrow  groove  is  formed  between  the  parallel  lateral 
ethmoids  and  the  obliquely  placed  supraethmoid  providing  space 
within  which  the  small  symphysial  cartilage  (see  below)  can 
slide.  The  anterior  part  of  the  pterygiophore  (basal  bone)  of  the 
illicium  does  not  lie  in  this  narrow  groove  as  stated  by  Regan 
(1926:16). 

The  frontals  are  considerably  shorter  than  those  of  oneirodids 
(Pietsch  1974a,  figs.  1,  2).  They  meet  on  the  midline  for  most  of 
their  length.  Anteriorly,  they  contribute  to  the  extremely  narrow 
orbital  region,  overlapping  the  posterior  ends  of  the  lateral  eth- 
moids; posteriorly  they  become  greatly  expanded  laterally. 

The  parietals  of  Caulophryne  occupy  a more  anterior  position 
than  in  oneirodids,  and  are  far  removed  from  the  posttemporals. 
Each  is  expanded  laterally  in  an  oblique  position,  overlapping 
four  other  bones:  the  sphenotic  laterally,  the  pterotic  and  epiotic 
posteriorly,  and  the  supraoccipital  medially.  Anteromedially, 
each  parietal  is  slightly  overlapped  by  the  respective  frontal  bone. 


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6 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


■SPHENOTIC 


Figure  3.  Ventral  view  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


Figure  4.  Anterior  view  of  anterior  half  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne 
jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


The  pterosphenoid  is  absent  (Pietsch  1972a:29). 

Each  sphenotic  is  a large,  anterolaterally  directed,  cone-shaped 
element,  the  apex  of  which  forms  an  elongate,  blunt  projection. 
On  its  ventral  margin,  each  frontal,  with  the  respective  prootic 
bone,  forms  an  oval-shaped  cartilaginous  area  within  which  the 
anterior  head  of  the  double-headed  hyomandibular  articulates. 
The  pterotic  is  also  cone-shaped,  but  posterolaterally  directed 
with  a much  larger  base.  A facet  for  the  articulation  of  the  poste- 
rior head  of  the  hyomandibular  bone  is  located  ventraliy  at  the 
apex  of  each  pterotic. 

In  oneirodids  (Pietsch  1974a:7,  figs.  1-3)  the  prootics  are  sep- 
arated anteriorly  by  the  anteroventral  process  of  the  supraoccipi- 
tal.  In  Caulophryne  the  supraoccipital  maintains  a dorsal  posi- 
tion, largely  overlapped  anteriorly  by  the  frontals,  so  that  the 
prootics  meet  on  the  midline  contributing  to  the  formation  of  the 
posterior  surface  of  the  orbit. 

Mandibular  arch  (Figs.  7,  8):  Each  premaxillary  has  a short 
articular  process  lying  slightly  behind  and  below  an  ascending 
process  of  similar  size.  Lying  on  the  midline  at  the  posterior  tips 
of  the  ascending  and  articular  processes  of  the  premaxillae  is  a 
small,  rounded  symphysial  cartilage  loosely  held  by  short  liga- 
ments and  connective  tissue.  A postmaxillary  process  of  the  pre- 
maxillary is  absent.  The  curved  elongate  portion  of  each  premax- 
illary bears  12  recurved,  depressible  teeth  of  mixed  sizes. 


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Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


7 


SUPRA  OCCIPITAL 


SPHENOTIC 


Figure  5.  Anterior  view  of  posterior  half  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm 


PTEROTIC 


CUT  SURFACE  EPIOTIC 


Figure  6.  Posterior  view  of  cranium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


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8 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


ASCENDING  PROCESS 


Figure  7.  Upper  jaw  of  Caulophryne  jordani:  A.  IOS,  68.0  mm,  lateral 
view  of  maxillary  and  premaxillary,  right  side;  B.  LACM  6844-3,  41.0 
mm,  lateral  view  of  symphysis  of  premaxillaries  showing  symphysial  car- 
tilage. 


The  articular  head  of  the  maxillary  consists  of  a slightly  con- 
cave dorsal  process  which  receives  the  anterior  head  of  the 
double- headed  palatine  bone  (see  below),  and  a ventromedial 
projection  which  passes  beneath,  and  provides  support  for,  the 
premaxillary. 

On  each  side,  the  posterior  ends  of  the  premaxillary  and  maxil- 
lary are  united  by  a short  ligament  that  passes  posteriorly  to 
attach  to  the  ascending  process  of  the  articular.  The  anterior-max- 
illomandibular ligament  (labial  cartilage  of  Le  Danois  1964; 
Pietsch  1972a:31),  so  well  developed  in  oneirodids  (Pietsch 
1974a:9),  is  absent. 

Anteriorly  the  dentaries  curve  to  meet  on  the  midline  where 
they  form  a strong  symphysial  spine.  The  anterior  half  of  each 
dentary  bears  nine  to  ten  recurved,  depressible  teeth  of  mixed 
sizes. 

Palatine  arch  (Fig.  8):  The  palatine  arch  is  elongate  and  slender 
throughout.  The  anterior  end  of  the  palatine  is  T-shaped,  consist- 
ing of  a posterior  head  which  is  attached  to  the  ethmoid  cartilage, 
and  an  anterior  head,  which  is  loosely  held  within  a shallow  cav- 
ity of  the  dorsal  process  of  the  respective  maxillary  bone  by  con- 
nective tissue  and  by  the  palatomaxillary  ligament.  A narrow 
mesopterygoid  is  present  but  makes  no  contact  with  the  metap- 
terygoid. 

Hyoid  Arch  (Figs.  8,  9):  The  suspensorium  of  Caulophryne  is 
unusually  narrow  and  elongate,  and  strongly  directed  obliquely 
backwards  (compare  with  a typical  oneirodid;  Pietsch  1974a,  fig. 
8).  The  posterior  head  of  the  double-headed  hyomandibular  is  the 
larger  and  longer  of  the  two  heads,  forming  a broad  articulation 
with  the  pterotic.  The  anterior  head  of  the  hyomandibular  articu- 

Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


lates  within  a cartilaginous  area  formed  between  the  sphenotic 
and  prootic  bones  (the  pterotic  does  not  border  on  the  articular 
area  of  the  anterior  head  of  the  hyomandibular  as  it  does  in  onei- 
rodids; Pietsch  1974a;  10,  figs.  2,  3). 

The  greater  length  of  the  suspensorium,  relative  to  other  cera- 
tioids  (see  above),  is  due  largely  to  the  extremely  narrow,  elon- 
gate quadrate.  A large  cleft  is  formed  between  the  anterior  and 
posterior  portions  of  the  quadrate  within  which  lies  the  narrow 
ventral  end  of  the  symplectic.  The  interhyal  is  large  compared  to 
that  of  oneirodids  (Pietsch  1974a,  fig.  8). 

The  epihyal  and  especially  the  ceratohyal  are  narrow  and  elon- 
gate compared  to  those  of  oneirodids  (Pietsch  1974a,  fig.  9).  In 
all  but  the  most  specialized  lophiiforms  (e.g.,  Gigantactis,  Neo- 
ceratias)  examined  by  me  (Pietsch  1974a,  Appendix  B),  the  cera- 
tohyal is  notched  anterodorsally  to  receive  the  posterior  extension 
of  the  elongate,  dorsal  hypohyal  (Rosen  and  Patterson  1969:439, 
fig.  57;  Pietsch  1972a,  fig.  14;  1974a,  figs.  9,  10).  In  Caulo- 
phryne the  anterodorsal  notch  is  absent;  the  dorsal  hypohyal  is 
short  and  does  not  extend  back  over  the  dorsal  surface  of  the 
ceratohyal.  At  midlength  each  ceratohyal  forms  a dorsal  process 
that  is  securely  attached  to  the  anterolateral  surface  of  ceratobra- 
chial  I by  ligamentous  connective  tissue.  A narrow  ligament  also 
extends  anteriorly  from  the  dorsal  process  of  the  ceratohyal  to 
insert  on  the  cartilage  of  the  hypohyals. 

The  left  ceratohyal  of  the  68.0  mm  specimen  (Fig.  9A)  appears 
to  be  abnormally  developed  in  having  a deeply  excavated  pos- 
teroventral  margin;  together  with  the  anteroventral  comer  of  the 
epihyal,  it  supports  only  five  branchiostegal  rays:  one  anterior 
element  (without  an  expanded  head)  on  the  inner  side  of  the  ante- 
rior, depressed  portion  of  the  ceratohyal,  and  four  posterior  ele- 
ments (with  expanded  heads)  on  the  outer  surface  of  the  elevated 
portion  of  the  ceratohyal.  The  right  ceratohyal  (Fig.  9B)  appears 
to  be  normally  developed  bearing  six  branchiostegals.  Only  one 
of  these,  however,  is  located  anteromedially;  five  (all  with 
expanded  heads)  are  in  a posterolateral  position.  Examination  (by 
dissection)  of  all  additional  available  material  of  Caulophryne 
showed  the  normal  complement  of  six  branchiostegal  rays,  two 
anteromedial  elements,  and  four  posterolateral  elements.  Previ- 
ous to  this,  no  lophiiform  examined  by  me  has  had  more  than 
four  posterior,  laterally  articulated  branchiostegals;  this  number  is 
considered  diagnostic  for  the  Paracanthopterygii  as  well  as  the 
Acanthopterygii  (Greenwood,  et  al.  1966:353;  Rosen  and  Patter- 
son 1969:439). 

Opercular  bones  (Fig.  8):  The  reduced  operculum  is  bifurcated 
proximally  forming  two,  extremely  slender,  and  nearly  parallel 
forks.  The  lower  fork,  more  than  three  times  the  length  of  the 
upper,  supports  the  suboperculum  distally.  The  suboperculum  is 
small,  weakly-ossified  (thought  to  be  absent  by  Regan  and 
Trewavas  1932:43,  fig.  56),  and  deeply  notched  on  its  posterior 
margin.  The  large,  posteriorly- curved  preoperculum  strengthens 
the  entire  length  of  the  long  hyoid  arch  extending  dorsally  along 
the  posterior  margin  of  the  hyomandibular  well  past  the  point  of 
the  articulation  of  the  operculum. 

Branchial  arches  (Fig.  10):  Pharyngobranchials  I and  IV  are 
absent;  those  of  the  second  and  third  arches  are  extremely  well 
developed,  bearing  four  to  six  recurved  depressible  fangs.  Epi- 
branchial  I and  ceratobranchial  V are  reduced,  lying  free  in  the 
connective  tissue  matrix.  No  ossified  or  cartilaginous  remnants  of 
hypobranchials  or  basibranchials  could  be  found. 

Vertebrae  and  caudal  skeleton  (Fig.  11):  In  the  two  cleared  and 
stained  specimens  examined  there  are  20  vertebral  centra  (includ- 
ing the  half-centrum  to  which  is  fused  the  hypural  plate;  Pietsch 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


9 


Figure  8.  Lateral  view  of  left  side  of  lower  jaw  and  suspensorium  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm,  with  opercular  bones  in  place. 


DORSAL  PROCESS 


Figure  9.  Lateral  views  of  hyoid  apparatus  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS, 
68.0  mm:  A.  Left  side;  B.  Right  side.  Interhyal  not  shown. 


1972a: 38)  of  which  ten  or  11  are  caudal  vertebrae  (those  centra 
bearing  complete  haemal  arches).  There  is  a single,  reduced 
epural  (Pietsch  1972a:38).  The  hypural  plate,  deeply  notched 
posteriorly  in  the  larger  cleared  and  stained  specimen,  but  entire 
in  the  smaller  specimen,  bears  the  overlapping  bases  of  eight 
principal  caudal  rays,  the  uppermost  of  which  is  exceptionally 
large.  The  central  four  caudal  rays  are  bifurcated  distally. 

Median  fins  and  illicial  apparatus  (Figs.  11,  12):  The  rays  of 
the  median  fins  are  unusually  long  compared  to  other  ceratioids, 
measuring,  in  extreme  cases,  more  than  twice  the  standard 
length.  These  rays  are  all  biserial,  segmented  and  unbranched, 
supported  by  elongate  radials.  In  the  68.0  mm  specimen  there  are 
19  dorsal  rays  supported  by  14  radials.  The  anteriormost  radial 
supports  the  first  dorsal  ray  and  lies  above  the  neural  spine  of  the 
12th  pre-ural  centrum.  The  posteriormost  radial  (which  appears 
to  be  the  product  of  two  fused  radials)  supports  the  14th  and  15th 
dorsal  rays  and  lies  above  the  neural  spine  of  the  sixth  pre-ural 
centrum.  In  the  anal  fin  there  are  17  rays  supported  by  14  closely 
associated  radials.  The  anteriormost  radial  supports  the  first  anal 
ray  and  lies  below  the  haemal  spine  of  the  eighth  pre-ural 
centrum.  The  posteriormost  radial  supports  the  14th  anal  ray  and 
lies  below  the  haemal  spine  of  the  fourth  pre-ural  centrum. 


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Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Figure  10.  Branchial  arches  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm.  The 
ventral  part  of  the  branchial  basket  is  shown  in  dorsal  view,  the  dorsal 
part  (epibranchials  and  pharyngobranchials)  is  folded  back  and  shown  in 
ventral  view. 


The  pterygiophore  of  the  illicium,  excluding  its  downtumed, 
cartilaginous  posterior  portion,  is  approximately  16  percent  of 
standard  length.  The  remnant  of  the  second  cephalic  ray  is  a 
minute,  toothlike  ossification  that  lies  on  the  pterygiophore  just 
behind  the  articulation  of  the  illicial  bone.  The  length  of  the  illic- 
ial  bone  varies  slightly  among  Caulophryne  species  and  becomes 
longer  proportionately  with  growth  (Fig.  16). 

Pectoral  girdle,  pectoral  fin,  and  pelvic  bones  (Fig.  13):  The 
posttemporals  of  Caulophryne  are  small  compared  to  those  of 
other  ceratioids.  In  oneirodids  each  posttemporal  meets  the 
respective  parietal  and  overlaps  the  pterotic,  epiotic  and  exoccip- 
ital  (Pietsch  1974a:  14,  figs.  1-3,  5,  6).  The  reduced  posttem- 
poral of  Caulophryne  overlaps  only  the  pterotic  and  epiotic  being 
far  removed  from  both  the  parietal  (see  above)  and  the  exoccipi- 
tal. 

The  supracleithrum  of  Caulophryne  is  unusually  large  covering 
most  of  the  lateral  surface  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  cleithrum. 
The  lower  portion  of  the  cleithrum  is  reduced  to  a slender,  thread 
of  bone. 

The  scapula  consists  of  a rounded  ossification  bounded  on 
three  sides  by  cartilage.  The  posterior  margin  of  the  ossified  part 
of  the  scapula  supports  the  uppermost  pectoral  radial.  The  cora- 
coid consists  of  an  expanded  dorsal  portion  which  meets  the  carti- 
lage of  the  scapula,  an  anteroventral  process  which  is  connected 
by  a ligament  to  the  reduced  lower  portion  of  the  cleithrum,  and 
an  extremely  large  posteroventral  process  which  meets  the  slen- 


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Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


11 


der  postcleithrum  distally. 

There  are  two  separate,  well-ossified  radials  in  fully  metamor- 
phosed specimens  of  Caulophryne,  a small  upper  radial  that  bears 
no  pectoral  fin  rays,  and  a much  larger,  distally  expanded,  lower 
radial  that  bears  all  the  rays  of  the  pectoral  fin.  The  lower  radial, 
however,  is  probably  the  product  of  two  or  more  fused  radials.  A 
cleared  and  stained  metamorphosing  female  (10.0  mm)  clearly 
shows  a deep,  posterior  cleft  in  the  lowermost  radial  indicating  at 
least  three  centers  of  ossification  in  the  pectoral  lobe  (Fig.  13B). 
Fusion  of  pectoral  radials  appears  to  be  common  among  cerati- 
oids  (Pietsch  1972a:41,  fig.  23;  Bertelsen  and  Struhsaker  1977). 

Caulophryne  is  unique  among  ceratioids  in  the  retention  of 
pelvic  fins  in  larval  stages.  Metamorphosis  involves  the  loss  of 
the  pelvic  fin  rays  but  a pelvic  bone  is  retained.  The  slender 
pelvic  bones  of  Caulophryne  lie  free  in  the  connective  tissue  ma- 
trix, far  removed  from  the  cleithrum.  Unlike  other  ceratioids, 
these  elements  do  not  have  cartilaginous  distal  tips. 

Skin  spines:  Thorough  microscopic  examination  of  the  skin  of 
cleared  and  stained  specimens  failed  to  show  the  presence  of  em- 
bedded dermal  spines. 


Figure  12.  Illicial  apparatus  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm. 


Figure  13.  Lateral  view  of  pectoral  girdle,  pectoral  fin,  and  pelvic  bone  of  Caulophryne:  A.  C.  jordani,  IOS,  68.0  mm;  B.  C.  sp.,  IOAN,  10.0  mm. 


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12 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


SYSTEMATICS 
Family  Caulophrymidae  Regan 

Type  genus  Caulophryne  Goode  and  Bean  1896. 

Caulophrynidae  Regan  1912:285,  288.  Regan  1926:4,  16,  22.  Regan 
1930:195.  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:6,  14,  24,  25,  26,  42,  100.  Roule 
and  Angel  1933:55.  Fowler  1936:1145,  1346.  Belloc  1949:958.  Bertelsen 
1951:29,  31.  Grey  1956:232.  Monod  1960:684.  Le  Danois  1964:13,  14. 
Kobayashi,  et  al.  1968:8.  Fitch  and  Lavenberg  1968:125,  Fig.  69.  Ueno 
1971:102.  Pietsch  1972a:18,  43,  45.  Maul  1973:666.  Pietsch  1976:783, 
788,  791,  792. 

DIAGNOSIS:  The  metamorphosed  females  of  the  family 
Caulophrynidae  are  distinguished  from  those  of  all  other  ceratioid 
families  by  having  two  pectoral  radials,  extremely  elongate  dor- 
sal and  anal  rays,  eight  caudal  rays,  neuromasts  of  the  acoustico- 
lateralis  system  located  at  the  tips  of  extremely  elongate  fila- 
ments, larval  pelvic  fins,  and  the  absence  of  an  escal  bulb.  In 
addition,  female  caulophrynids  share  the  following  combination 
of  characters:  jaws  equal  anteriorly;  supraethmoid  present;  pari- 
etals  present,  displaced  anteriorly;  pterosphenoid  absent;  ante- 
rior-maxillomandibular ligament  absent  (labial  cartilage  of  Le 
Danois  1964;  Pietsch  1972a:31);  hyomandibular  with  a double 
head;  2 hypohyals;  6 (rarely  5)  branchiostegal  rays;  operculum 
bifurcate,  both  forks  reduced;  suboperculum  notched  posteriorly, 
anterior  spine  or  projection  absent;  pharyngobranchial  I absent; 
epibranchial  and  ceratobranchial  teeth  absent;  hypobranchials  and 
basibranchials  absent;  a single,  reduced  epural;  posterior  margin 
of  hypural  plate  notched  in  some  specimens;  only  an  ossified 
remnant  of  second  cephalic  ray  present;  posttemporal  reduced; 
lower  portion  of  cleithrum  reduced;  posteroventral  process  of 
coracoid  well-developed;  pelvic  fins  present  in  larvae;  pelvic 
bones  of  metamorphosed  females  rod-like,  not  expanded  distally; 
esca  without  denticles;  skin  spines  absent. 

DESCRIPTION:  Body  relatively  short,  globular  (Figs.  14,  20); 
oral  valve  well-developed,  lining  inside  of  both  upper  and  lower 
jaws;  two  nostrils  on  each  side  at  the  end  of  a single  short  tube; 
eye  small  and  subcutaneous,  appearing  through  a circular,  trans- 
lucent area  of  integument;  gill  opening  oval  in  shape,  situated 
just  posteroventral  to  pectoral  lobe;  all  four  epibranchials  closely 
bound  together  by  connective  tissue;  posterior  third  of  cerato- 


branchial I bound  to  ceratobranchial  II;  no  opening  behind  fourth 
arch;  gill  filaments  present  on  anterior-most  tip  of  ceratobranchial 
I and  full  length  of  ceratobranchials  II  through  IV;  pseudobranch 
absent;  pattern  of  placement  of  acoustico- lateralis  system  as 
described  for  other  ceratioids  (Pietsch  1969,  1972b,  1974a,  b); 
neuromasts  situated  at  the  tips  of  elongate  filaments;  ovaries 
paired;  two,  short  pyloric  caeca. 

Illicium  becoming  proportionately  longer  with  growth  (Fig. 
16);  anterior  end  of  pterygiophore  of  illicium  exposed,  emerging 
on  snout,  its  posterior  end  concealed  under  skin;  esca  unpig- 
mented  and  translucent,  simple,  without  elaborate  appendages 
(Robia),  or  consisting  of  several  branched  appendages  or  numer- 
ous filaments  ( Caulophryne );  escal  bulb  and  central  lumen 
absent;  entire  length  of  illicium  covered  with  translucent  fila- 
ments in  some  forms  of  Caulophryne. 

Teeth  slender,  recurved  and  depressible,  those  in  lower  jaw 
less  numerous,  but  slightly  longer  than  those  in  upper  jaw;  number 
of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  14-34,  in  upper  jaw  20-45;  total  number 
of  teeth  on  vomer  1-5;  pharyngobranchials  II  and  III  heavily 
toothed. 

Color  in  preservative  dark  brown  to  black  over  entire  surface 
of  body  (except  for  esca,  and  in  some  forms,  the  illicium)  and 
oral  cavity;  viscera  unpigmented. 

D.  6-22;  A.  5-19;  P.  15-18  (Table  1);  pelvics  with  3-4  rays 
in  larvae  and  metamorphosis  stages,  absent  in  adolescents  and 
adults;  C.  8 (2  unbranched  - 4 branched  - 2 unbranched). 

The  following  measurements,  expressed  in  percent  of  SL,  are 
summarized  for  the  females  (20.0-  142.0  mm)  of  all  species: 
head  length  27.2-41.7;  head  depth  32.7-45.4;  head  width 
21.9-30.6;  lower  jaw  31.3-48.1;  premaxillary  28.9-44.4; 
longest  tooth  in  lower  jaw  5. 1-9.5;  longest  dorsal  ray 
63.4-155.3;  longest  anal  ray  39.0—15 1.1;  illicium  16.0-268.3. 

Robia  new  genus 

Type  species:  Robia  legula  new  species. 

DIAGNOSIS:  The  genus  Robia  is  distinguished  from  Caulo- 
phryne (the  only  other  member  of  its  family)  in  having  a consid- 
erably longer  illicium  (268.3  percent  of  SL),  shorter  jaw  teeth, 


Key  to  the  Genera  and  Species  of  the  Caulophrynidae 

The  following  key  will  differentiate  adolescent  and  adult  female  specimens  only.  Characters  that  allow  specific  identification  of  males 
(known  from  only  three  specimens,  two  of  which  are  parasitically  attached  to  females)  and  larvae  (16  specimens;  Bertelsen  1951:35,  figs. 
8,  1 1)  are  unknown. 

IA.  Illicium  long,  268  percent  of  SL  in  a 41  mm  specimen;  D.6,  A. 5 Robia  legula  new  genus  and  species 

(single  known  specimen,  41.0  mm). 

IB.  Illicium  short,  less  than  SL;  D.  14-22,  A.  12-19 Caulophryne 2 

2A.  Illicium  with  translucent  filaments  along  entire  length  (Figs.  19,  21);  length  of  illicium  less  than  35  percent  SL  (Fig.  16);  D.  16-22, 

A.  14-19  (Table  1)  3 

2B.  Illicium  without  filaments  (Fig.  17);  length  of  illicium  greater  than  35  percent  of  SL  (Fig.  16);  D.  14-17,  A.  12-16  (Table  1) 

C.  pelagica  (Brauer  1902). 

3A.  Upper  jaw  with  more  than  35  teeth  in  specimens  larger  than  40  mm,  30  or  more  in  specimens  larger  than'20  mm  (Fig.  18);  illicium 
with  more  than  50  filaments  along  entire  length  in  specimens  larger  than  32  mm  (Fig.  21);  D.  20-22  (rarely  19),  A.  18-19  (rarely 

17)  (Table  1)  C.  polynema  Regan  1930. 

3B.  Upper  jaw  usually  with  less  than  35  teeth  in  specimens  larger  than  40  mm,  less  than  30  in  specimens  larger  than  20  mm  (Fig.  18); 

illicium  with  less  than  15  filaments  along  length  (Fig.  19);  D.  16-18  (rarely  19),  A.  14-17  (rarely  18)  (Table  1)  

C.  jordani  Goode  and  Bean  1896. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


13 


TABLE  1 

Frequencies  of  fin-ray  counts  for  species  of  Caulophrynidae 


Species 

Dorsal 

Anal 

Pectoral 

6 

14  15 

16 

17 

18 

19  20 

21 

22 

5 12  13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

15 

16 

17 

18 

Robia  legula 

1 

1 

2 

Caulophryne  pelagica 

3 1 

2 

3 1 

1 

1 

3 

2 

3 

2 

Caulophryne  jordani 

5 

2 

3 

1 

3 

3 

4 

1 

5 

10 

3 

Caulophryne  polynema 

1 1 

4 

2 

1 

4 

3 

1 

5 

6 

4 

Total 

1 

3 1 

5 

4 

3 

2 1 

4 

2 

1 3 1 

3 

4 

5 

1 

5 

3 

4 

12 

21 

9 

Figure  14.  Robia  legula,  Holotype,  LACM  36024-1,  41.0  mm.  Drawn  by  Caryl  Maloof. 


and  a smaller  number  of  relatively  short  median  fin  rays  (D.6, 
less  than  65  percent  of  SL;  A. 5,  less  than  40  percent  of  SL). 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  name  Robia , to  be  treated  as  a noun  of 
feminine  gender,  is  given  in  honor  of  Bruce  H.  Robison  (better 
known  to  his  friends  as  “Robie”)  in  recognition  of  his  contribu- 
tions to  our  knowledge  of  midwater  fishes. 

Robia  legula  new  species 

Figures  14,  15,  24 

HOLOTYPE:  LACM  36024-1,  41.0  mm;  ALPHA  HELIX 
Southeast  Asian  Bioluminescence  Expedition  Station  81,  Banda 


Sea,  4°  56.5'S,  129°  59.5'E,  RMT-8  with  closing  device, 
1000-  1500  m,  0416  - 0616  hr,  28  April  1975. 

DESCRIPTION:  Illicium  without  filaments,  darkly  pigmented 
along  entire  length  except  near  esca;  esca  translucent,  with  two 
short  lateral  appendages  and  a slightly  more  opaque  distal  tip 
bearing  three  short  appendages  (Fig.  15). 

Total  number  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  31,  in  upper  jaw  33; 
vomerine  teeth  4;  D.  6;  A.  5;  P.  17  (Table  1). 

Measurements  in  percent  of  SL:  head  length  39.0;  head  depth 
39.0;  head  width  23.4;  lower  jaw  47.6;  premaxillary  37.8;  long- 
est tooth  in  lower  jaw  5.1;  longest  dorsal  ray  63.4;  longest  anal 
ray  39.0;  illicium  268.3. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mils.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


14 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Figure  15.  Esca  of  Robia  legula,  Holotype,  LACM  36024-1,  41.0  mm. 

Rest  of  characters  as  for  genus  and  family. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Robia  legula  is  known  from  a single  speci- 
men collected  from  the  Banda  Sea  (4°  56. 5 'S,  129°  59. 5 'E)  with 
an  opening-closing  trawl  between  1000  and  1500  m. 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  name  legula  is  derived  from  the  Latin 
legula , meaning  collector  or  gatherer,  alluding  to  the  extraor- 
dinary collecting  abilities  of  this  anglerfish  and  its  collector. 

Caulophryne  Goode  and  Bean  1896 

Caulophryne  Goode  and  Bean  1896:496,  fig.  409  (type  species  Caulo- 
phryne jordani  Goode  and  Bean  1896,  by  original  designation  and 
monotypy). 

Melanocetus  Brauer  1902:295  (in  part;  type  species  Melanocetus  johnsoni 
Gunther  1864,  by  monotypy).  Brauer  1906:321,  pi.  15,  fig.  5 (after 
Brauer  1902). 

Ceratocaulophryne  Roule  and  Angel  1932:500  (type  species  Ceratocau- 
lophryne  regani  Roule  and  Angel  1932,  by  monotypy).  Roule  and 
Angel  1933:55  pi.  3,  figs.  26,  26A  (after  Roule  and  Angel  1932; 
expanded  description). 

DIAGNOSIS:  The  genus  Caulophryne  is  distinguished  from 
Robia  (the  only  other  member  of  its  family)  in  having  a consider- 
ably shorter  illicium  (less  than  50  percent  of  SL),  longer  jaw 
teeth,  and  a greater  number  of  relatively  long  median  fin  rays  (D. 
14-22,  greater  than  70  percent  of  SL;  A.  12-  19,  greater  than  60 
percent  of  SL). 

Caulophryne  pelagica  (Brauer  1902) 

Figures  16-18,  24 

Melanocetus  pelagicus  Brauer  1902:295  (original  description,  single 
specimen).  Brauer  1906:321,  plate  15,  fig.  5 (after  Brauer  1902). 
Regan  1926:22  (“probably  a synonym  of  C.  jordani”). 
Caulophryne  pelagicus  Regan  1912:288  (new  combination;  listed). 
Caulophryne  jordani  Regan  1926:22  (in  part;  specimen  later  described  as 
C.  ramulosa  sp.  n.  by  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932).  Kobayashi,  et 
al.  1968:8-12,  figs.  1,  2,  tables  1,  2 (additional  specimen;  descrip- 
tion). 


Caulophryne  ramulosa  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:100,  101,  pi.  7,  fig. 
160  (original  description;  single  specimen,  previously  recorded  by 
Regan  1926,  as  C.  jordani;  in  key)  Bertelsen  1951:36,  37,  tables  2, 
3 (description;  a synonym  of  C.  jordani  pelagica ). 

Caulophryne  acinosa  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:100,  101,  pi.  8,  fig.  161 
(original  description;  single  specimen;  in  key).  Bertelsen  1951:36, 
37,  tables  2,  3 (description;  a synonym  of  C.  jordani  pelagica). 
Caulophryne  pelagica  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:100,  102,  fig.  162  (new 
orthography;  in  key;  description  after  Brauer  1902,  1906,  esca  fig- 
ured). Bertelsen  1951:36,  37,  fig.  9,  table  3 (figure  after  Brauer 
1906;  a subspecies  of  C.  jordani). 

Caulophryne  jordani  pelagica  Bertelsen  1951:33,  37,  fig.  9,  table  3 (in 
key;  description,  comparison  with  all  known  material;  includes  C. 
ramulosa  and  C.  acinosa).  Grey  1956:233  (synonymy;  after  Bertel- 
sen 1951).  Kobayashi,  et  al.  1968:9  (new  specimen  most  similar 
to). 

MATERIAL:  Six  known  females,  11.0-  92.0  mm. 

Holotype  of  Melanocetus  pelagicus:  ZMB  17711,  11.0  mm; 
VALDIVIA  Station  228,  Indian  Ocean,  2°  38'S,  65°  59'E, 
0-2500  m,  bottom  depth  3460  m. 

Holotype  of  Caulophryne  ramulosa:  ZMUC  P9245,  57.0  mm; 
DANA  Station  1209(1),  Gulf  of  Panama,  7°  15'N,  78°  54'W, 
3500  m wire,  1845  hr,  17  January  1922. 

Holotype  of  Caulophryne  acinosa:  ZMUC  P9244,  19.0  mm; 
DANA  Station  3920(2),  Indian  Ocean,  1°  06'S,  62°  25'E,  3500  m 
wire,  bottom  depth  4630  m,  1830  hr,  9 December  1929. 

NONTYPE  MATERIAL:  LACM  30619-6,  65.0  mm; 
VELERO  IV  Station  9903,  29°  30'N,  118°  54'W,  3-m  IKMT, 
0-834  m,  2315-0515  hr,  7 August  1964.  LACM  36023-1, 
13.0  mm;  ALPHA  HELIX  Southeast  Asian  Bioluminescence 
Expedition  Station  143,  0°  14.5'S,  128°  46.7'E,  RMT-8, 
1250-  1500  m,  1715-  1930  hr,  20  May  1975. 

Fisheries  Museum,  Faculty  of  Fisheries,  Hokkaido  University 
F-1639,  92.0  mm;  No.  3 Shichisei  Mam,  42°  40'N,  144°  40'E, 
0-  500  m,  0800-  1200  hr,  26  April  1967. 

DIAGNOSIS:  In  addition  to  differences  in  escal  morphology 
(Figs.  17,  19,  21),  C.  pelagica  may  be  distinguished  from  C. 
jordani  and  C.  polynema  in  having  a slightly  longer  illicium  (Fig. 
16),  fewer  dorsal  fin  rays  (Table  1),  and  by  the  absence  of  illicial 
filaments  (Figs.  17,  19,  21).  It  is  further  separated  from  C.  jor- 
dani by  having  a greater  number  of  upper  jaw  teeth  (Fig.  18). 
Caulophryne  pelagica  probably  also  has  longer  median  fin  rays 
than  its  congeners,  but  this  character  is  difficult  to  quantify  accu- 
rately because  the  distal  ends  of  the  rays  are  nearly  always 
broken  off. 

DESCRIPTION:  Illicium  without  filaments,  darkly  pigmented 
along  entire  length  except  near  esca;  esca  consisting  of  five  or  six 
elongate,  filamentous  appendages:  two,  more  lateral  in  position, 
bearing  none  to  several  side  branches,  and  three  or  four,  more 
distal,  bearing  numerous  side  branches;  opaque  areas  absent 
(Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:101,  102,  figs.  160-162;  Fig.  17). 

Total  number  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  24-34,  in  upper  jaw 
28-40  (Fig.  18);  vomerine  teeth  2-3;  D.  14-17;  A.  12-16,  P. 
15-18  (Fig.  18,  Table  1). 

Measurements  in  percent  of  SL;  longest  tooth  in  lower  jaw 
5. 8-6. 8;  longest  dorsal  ray  105-228;  longest  anal  ray  132-174; 
illicium  31.6-43.9  (Fig.  16). 

Rest  of  characters  as  for  genus  and  family. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Caulophryne  pelagica  is  represented  by  two 
specimens  collected  in  the  Indian  Ocean,  a third  record  from  the 
Halmahera  Sea,  East  Indies  (13.0  mm,  collected  with  a closing 
trawl  between  1250-1500  m),  a fourth  from  off  Guadalupe 
Island,  Mexico,  a fifth  off  Japan,  and  a sixth  specimen  from  the 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


15 


0 10  20  30  40  50  60  70  80  90  100  110  120  130  140 


Figure  16.  Illicial  length  versus  standard  length  for  Caulophryne  species. 


Standard  length  in  mm 


Gulf  of  Panama  (Fig.  24). 

COMMENTS:  The  results  of  this  investigation  confirm  Bertel- 
sen’s  (1951:36)  opinion  that  C.  ramulosa  and  C.  acinosa  are 
junior  synonyms  of  C.  pelagica.  The  illicia  of  the  holotypes  of 
all  three  are  “well-preserved  and  constructed  in  a very  similar 
fashion.”  Further,  all  three  nominal  forms  agree  in  having  a 
slightly  longer  illicium  and  fewer  median  fin  rays  than  other 
species. 

Caulophryne  jordani  Goode  and  Bean  1896 

Figures  1-13,  16,  18,  19,  24 

Caulophryne  jordani  Goode  and  Bean  1896:26*,  496,  541,  fig.  409 
(original  description;  single  specimen;  erroneous  name  in  list  of 
plates,  index,  figure  caption).  Jordan  and  Evermann  1898:2735 
(description  after  Goode  and  Bean  1896).  Jordan  and  Evermann 
1900,  fig.  957  (figure  after  Goode  and  Bean  1896).  Gill  1909:586, 
fig.  24  (brief  description  and  figure  after  Goode  and  Bean  1896). 
Regan  1912:288  (description  after  Goode  and  Bean  1896).  Beebe 
1926:422  (additional  specimen).  Regan  1926:4,  22,  figs.  7,  16 
(cranial  osteology;  expanded  description).  Beebe  1929:19  (addi- 
tional specimen).  Regan  1930:191,  193  (comparison  with  C.  poly- 
nerna).  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:6,  100,  101,  fig.  159  (in  key; 
brief  description  after  Goode  and  Bean  1896;  illicium  figured). 

^ — Figure  17.  Esca  of  Caulophryne  pelagica,  LACM  30619-3,  65.0  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25 


16 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Roule  and  Angel  1933:57  (comparison  with  C.  regani).  Bertelsen 
1951:33-38,  figs.  8-11,  tables  2,  3 (description,  comparison  with 
all  known  material;  three  subspecies).  Lavenberg  and  Ebeling 
1967:195;  fig.  5 (vertical  distribution).  Kobayashi,  et  al. 
1968:8-  12,  figs.  1,  2,  tables  1,  2 (additional  specimen  here 
referred  to  C.  pelagica;  description).  Fitch  and  Lavenberg 
1968:125-127,  fig.  69  (distinguishing  characters;  natural  history). 
Ueno  1971:102  (listed).  Pietsch  1972a:29,  35,  36,  38,  41-43,  45, 
fig.  24(3)  (osteology;  otolith  described,  figured).  Pietsch  1976:783 
(reproduction). 

Ceratocaulophryne  regani  Roule  and  Angel  1932:500  (original  descrip- 
tion; single  specimen).  Roule  and  Angel  1933:55-57,  pi.  3,  figs. 
26,  26a  (expanded  description:  figures  of  holotype,  lateral,  dorsal 
views).  Belloc  1949:17  (listed).  Bertelsen  1951:36,  table  3 (a  syn- 
onym of  C.  jordani  polynerna).  Kobayashi,  et  al.  1968:8  (after  Ber- 
telsen 1951). 

Caulophryne  regani  Fowler  1936:1347  (new  combination;  in  key; 

description  after  Roule  and  Angel  1932,  1933). 

Caulophryne  jordani  polynerna  Bertelsen  1951:33,  37  table  3 (in  part; 
includes  C.  regani  here  referred  to  C.  jordani).  Grey  1956:233 
(after  Bertelsen  1951).  Maul  1973:666  (after  Bertelsen  1951). 
Caulophryne  jordani  jordani  Bertelsen  1951:33,  37,  table  3 (in  key;  one 
of  three  subspecies;  description,  comparison  with  all  known  mate- 
rial). Grey  1956:232  (synonymy;  after  Bertelsen  1951). 

MATERIAL:  Eleven  known  females,  23:0-109.0  mm. 

Holotype  of  Caulophryne  jordani:  USNM  39265,  26.0  mm; 
ALBATROSS,  off  Long  Island,  New  York,  39°  27'N,  71°  15'W, 
0-2335  m,  19  September  1887. 

Holotype  of  Ceratocaulophryne  regani:  MOM  Galerie:  Level 
3,  Window  55,  38.0  mm;  HIRONDELLE II  Station  3279,  west  of 
the  Azores,  38°  55'N,  34°  07'W,  0-3000  m,  23  August  1912. 

NONTYPE  MATERIAL:  LACM  11317-1,  54.0  mm;  USNS 
ELTANIN  Station  1825,  39°  58'S,  160°  34'E,  3-m  IKMT, 
0-1625  m,  0218-0613  hr,  5 December  1966.  LACM  33924-1, 

54.0  mm;  VELERO  IV  Station  17668,  32°  42'N,  118°  13'W;  3-m 
IKMT,  0-750  m,  0947-1505  hr,  28  June  1972.  LACM  6844-3, 

41.0  mm;  VELERO  IV  Station  7325,  33°  36'N,  118°  24'  W,  3-m 
IKMT,  0-640  m,  1129-1420  hr,  9 March  1961  (cleared  and 
stained). 

IOS  uncatalogued,  68.0  mm;  DISCOVERY  II  Station  7480,  39° 
55.2'N,  20°  07.4'W,  RMT,  1250-1510  m,  0921-  1321  hr,  7 
November  1970  (cleared  and  stained).  IOS  uncatalogued, 

36.0  mm;  DISCOVERY  II  Station  8281-43,  31°  44'N,  63° 
58'W,  RMT-8,  1235-1260  m,  1358-1658  hr,  20  March  1973. 

USNM  148469,  ca.  75  mm;  ALBATROSS  Station  2530,  40° 
53'N,  66°  24'W,  14  June  1885.  USNM  216461,  54.0  mm; 
OCEAN  ACRE  Cruise  10,  Station  21N,  31°  27'N,  64°49'W,  3-m 
IKMT,  0-880,  1955-0135  hr,  6 June  1970. 

ROM  27250,  109  mm;  BRAN  DAL  Tow  3,  50°  30'N,  49° 
30'W,  Engel  Trawl,  0-1070  m,  0710-1000  hr,  12  July  1968. 

MCZ  51279,  23.0  mm;  ANTON  BROUN  Cruise  6,  Station 
339B,  APB  7231,  04°  14'S,  65°  02'E,  3-m  IKMT,  0-275  m, 
bottom  depth  3900  m,  0715-1610  hr,  30  May  1964. 

DIAGNOSIS:  In  addition  to  differences  in  escal  morphology 
(Pigs.  17,  19,  21),  C.  jordani  is  distinguished  from  C.  pelagica 
and  C.  polynerna  in  having  fewer  upper  jaw  teeth  (Fig.  18).  The 
dorsal  fin  of  C.  jordani  has  a greater  number  of  rays  than  that  of 
C.  pelagica,  and  fewer  rays  than  that  of  C.  polynerna  (Table  1). 
It  is  further  distinguished  from  C.  pelagica  in  having  a slightly 
shorter,  filamentous  illicium;  illicial  filaments  are  absent  in  C. 
pelagica , but  considerably  more  numerous  in  C.  polynerna  (Figs. 
17,  19,  21). 

DESCRIPTION:  Illicium  pigmented  except  near  esca,  with  5 
to  14  elongate  (up  to  87  percent  of  illicium  length),  translucent 


filaments  along  entire  length,  all  but  distal-most  arising  from  pos- 
terior margin;  esca  with  a posterolateral  appendage  bearing 
numerous  short  filaments  and  having  a palmate  (usually  bilobed), 
opaque,  distal  tip;  two  distal  appendages:  the  posterior- most 
slender,  bearing  numerous  filaments,  the  anterior-most  short  and 
stout,  opaque  along  posterior  margin,  and  bearing  numerous 
filaments  (separation  into  two  distal  appendages  not  as  evident  in 
specimens  less  than  40.0  mm);  and  an  elongate,  filamentous, 
anterolateral  appendage  (illicial  and  escal  filaments  lost  in  holo- 
type. see  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:101,  fig.  159;  Fig.  19). 

Total  number  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  16-26,  in  upper  jaw 
20-39;  vomerine  teeth  2-5;  D.  16-19,  A.  14-18,  P.  16-18 
(Fig.  18,  Table  1). 

Measurements  in  percent  of  SL:  longest  tooth  in  lower  jaw 
6. 1-9.3;  longest  dorsal  ray  78-115;  longest  anal  ray  82-110; 
illicium  17.6-33.9  (Fig.  16). 

Rest  of  characters  as  for  genus  and  family. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Caulophryne  jordani  is  known  from  all 
three  major  oceans  of  the  world:  seven  records  from  the  North 
Atlantic,  one  from  the  Indian  Ocean,  one  from  the  Southern 
Ocean  at  approximately  40°S,  160°E,  and  two  from  off  southern 
California.  The  two  IOS  specimens  from  the  north  Atlantic  (36.0 
and  68.0  mm)  were  collected  with  a closing  trawl  between  1235 
and  1260  m,  and  1250  and  1510  m,  respectively  (Fig.  24). 

COMMENTS:  The  illicial  apparatus  of  the  holotype  of  C.  jor- 
dani is  somewhat  damaged  as  indicated  by  a drawing  provided  by 
Regan  and  Trewavas  (1932,  fig.  159),  and  as  noted  by  Bertelsen 
(1951:36).  Filaments  normally  found  along  the  length  of  the  illic- 
ium and  arising  from  the  esca  are  absent.  The  posterolateral  escal 
appendage  and  two  distal  appendages,  however,  remain  intact.  In 
these  and  all  other  characters  the  additional  material  (with  a 
minor  exception,  see  below)  here  assigned  to  C.  jordani  com- 
pares very  well  with  the  holotype. 

Bertelsen  (1951:37)  believed  that  Ceratocaulophryne  regani 
and  Caulophryne  polynerna  might  be  synonyms  on  the  basis  of 
similarity  in  illicial  morphology,  “position  of  the  fins,  and  rela- 
tive dimensions.”  This  conclusion,  however,  is  not  supported  by 
data  provided  by  Jprgen  Nielsen  of  the  Zoological  Museum, 
University  of  Copenhagen.  In  illicial  and  escal  morphology,  jaw 
tooth  counts,  and  in  dorsal  and  anal  fin  ray  counts  (16  and  16, 
not  15  and  14,  respectively,  as  given  by  Roule  and  Angel 
1933),  the  holotype  of  C.  regani  compares  well  with  the  material 
here  recognized  as  C.  jordani.  Ceratocaulophryne  regani  is 
removed  from  the  synonymy  of  C.  polynerna  and  placed  within 
that  of  C.  jordani. 

The  54.0  mm  specimen  of  C.  jordani  from  the  Southern  Ocean 
(LACM  11317-1)  differs  from  other  individuals  of  this  species 
in  having  a higher  number  of  jaw  teeth  (Fig.  18). 

Caulophryne  polynerna  Regan  1930 

Figures  16,  18,  20,  21,  24 

Caulophryne  polynerna  Regan  1930:191-195,  figs.  1-3  (original 
description;  single  female  specimen  with  parasitically  attached 
male).  Parr  1930:131,  fig.  4 (figure  after  Regan  1930).  Regan  and 
Trewavas  1932:100,  101  (in  key;  description  after  Regan  1930). 
Fowler  1936:1347  (in  key;  description  after  Regan  1930).  Bertelsen 
1951:36,  37,  fig.  12,  table  3 (figure  after  Regan  1930;  a subspecies 
of  C.  jordani).  Pietsch  1976:789  (reproduction). 

Caulophryne  jordani  polynerna  Bertelsen  1951:33,  37,  fig.  12,  table  3 (in 
key;  description,  comparison  with  all  known  material;  includes 


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Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


17 


03 


36 
34 
32 
30 
28 
26 
24 
22 
20 
18 
16 
14 
12 

10  20  30  40  50  60  70  80  90  100  110  120  130  140  150 


i i i r 


• L ACM  11317  1 


i 1 


A C.  pelagica 
• C.  jordami 
° C.  polynema 
0 C.  sp. 


_J L_ 


Standard  length  in  mm 


Figure  18.  Number  of  teeth  in  upper  and  lower  jaws  versus  standard  length  for  Caulophryne  species. 


Ceratocaulophryne  regani  Roule  and  Angel  1932).  Grey  1956:233 
(synonymy;  after  Bertelsen  1951). 

MATERIAL;  Nine  known  females,  14.0-  142.0  mm. 

Holotype  of  Caulophryne  polynema:  BMNH  1930.2.7.1,  142 
mm;  “long  line,  in  deep  water,”  off  Funchal  Bay,  Madeira;  1 
February  1929. 

NONTYPE  MATERIAL:  LACM  33923-  1,  103  mm; 
VELERO  IV  Station  14962,  33°  10'N,  118°  31'W,  3-m  I KMT, 
1000  m wire,  0455-0943  hr,  10  February  1971.  LACM 


30619-3,  32.0  mm;  VELERO  IV  Station  9903,  29°  30'N,  118° 
54'W,  3-m  IKMT,  0-834  m,  2315-0515  hr,  7 August  1964. 
LACM  32772-1,  24.5  mm;  TERITU  Cruise  Vanilla  Fudge,  Sta- 
tion 69.11.4,  22°  OO'N,  158°  00' W,  3-m  IKMT,  0-1150  m, 
1225-1635  hr,  12  November  1969.  LACM  35897-1,  14.0  mm; 
TERITU  Station  74.5.7,  21°  20-30'N,  158°  20-30'W,  4-m 
IKMT,  0-  1000  m,  1405-  1650  hr,  25  May  1974. 

IOS  uncatalogued,  1 10  mm;  DISCOVERY  II  Station  8275,  32° 
01.4'N,  50°  33.5'W,  RMT,  0-1000  m,  2339-0150  hr,  5 March 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


18 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Figure  19.  Esca  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  LACM  33924-1,  54.0  mm. 


1973.  IOS  uncatalogued,  100  mm;  DISCOVERY  II  Station 
7856-50,  30°  03.7'N,  23°  00.2'W,  RMT,  1000-1250  m, 
0917-1317  hr,  5 April  1972.  IOS  uncatalogued,  11.5  mm;  DIS- 
COVERY II  Station  7089-8,  17°  45'N,  25°  17'W,  RMT, 
900-1010  m;  0320-0659  hr;  13  November  1969. 

ISH  3000/71,  44.0  mm;  WALTHER  HERWIG  Station  510/71; 
27°  18'N,  19°  44' W;  CMBT-1600,  0-2000  m;  1752-2151  hr; 
20  April  1971. 

DIAGNOSIS:  In  addition  to  differences  in  escal  morphology 
(Figs.  17,  19,  21),  C.  polynema  is  distinguished  from  C.  pelag- 
ica  and  C.  jordani  in  having  a greater  number  of  dorsal  fin  rays 


(Table  1)  and  a highly  filamentous  illicium  (Figs.  17,  19,  21).  It 
is  further  separated  from  C.  pelagica  in  having  a slightly  shorter 
illicium  (Fig.  16),  and  from  C.  jordani  in  having  more  upper  jaw 
teeth  (Fig.  18). 

DESCRIPTION:  Illicium  lightly  pigmented  along  anterior 
margin  (fully  pigmented  in  44.0  mm  specimen),  and  bearing 
numerous,  elongate  (up  to  71  percent  of  illicium  length),  translu- 
cent filaments,  most  of  which  arise  from  posterior  margin;  more 
than  50  filaments  in  specimens  larger  than  32  mm,  reduced  to 
approximately  10  in  smaller  specimens;  esca  consisting  of  a 
posterolateral  appendage  with  a palmate  (usually  bilobed), 
opaque,  distal  tip,  and  a tapering  terminal  appendage  with  an 
opaque  distal  tip;  escal  appendages  highly  filamentous  in  speci- 
mens larger  than  44  mm,  number  and  length  of  filaments  reduced 
in  smaller  specimens  (most  escal  filaments  lost  in  holotype,  see 
Regan,  1930:193,  fig.  2;  Fig.  21). 

Total  number  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  19-32,  in  upper  jaw 
30-45;  vomerine  teeth  1-3;  D.  19-22,  A.  17-19,  P.  15-18 
(Fig.  18,  Table  1). 

Measurements  in  percent  of  SL:  longest  tooth  in  lower  jaw 
5. 6-9. 5;  longest  dorsal  ray  70-155;  longest  anal  ray  60-151; 
illicium  16.0-32.1  (Fig.  16). 

Rest  of  characters  as  for  genus  and  family. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Five  specimens  of  C.  polynema  have  been 
collected  from  the  eastern  north  Atlantic  Ocean  as  far  west  as 
approximately  50°  W.  Four  additional  records  are  known  from 
the  eastern  north  Pacific:  two  from  Hawaii  and  two  from  off 
southern  California.  The  100  mm  IOS  specimen  from  the  eastern 
north  Atlantic  was  captured  with  a closing  trawl  between  1000 
and  1250  m (Fig.  24). 

COMMENTS:  Caulophryne  polynema  was  separated  by  Regan 
and  Trewavas  (1932:100)  from  the  other  species  because  of  its 
higher  number  of  dorsal  and  anal-fin  rays.  Bertelsen  (1951:36) 
however,  noted  that  the  high  number  of  fin  rays  in  caulophrynids 
(compared  to  other  ceratioids)  has  such  a large  individual  varia- 
tion (D.  14  to  22,  A.  12  to  19)  that  “we  can  scarcely  attach 
much  weight  to  this  character.”  The  greater  amount  of  material 
available  now  indicates  that  despite  this  variation  within  the 
genus,  fin- ray  counts  are  of  significant  taxonomic  importance. 
Caulophryne  polynema  can  nearly  always  be  separated  from  its 
congeners  by  its  greater  number  of  dorsal  and  anal-fin  rays  (see 
Key,  Table  1). 

Caulophryne  species 

Figures  16,  18,  22,  23 

LACM  36025-1,  female,  98.0  mm  with  parasitic  male,  12.0 
mm;  ALPHA  HELIX  Southeast  Asian  Bioluminescence  Expedi- 
tion Station  37,  Midwater  Trawl  22,  4°  56'S,  129°  26'E,  RMT-8, 
0-  2000  m,  0320-0530  hr,  12  April  1975. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  FEMALE:  Illicium  unpigmented  with 
approximately  30  elongate  (up  to  25  percent  of  illicium  length), 
translucent  filaments  along  entire  length,  those  on  proximal  half 
of  illicium  arising  from  posterior  margin;  esca,  a tapering 
appendage  bearing  numerous  simple  filaments  and  four  highly 
branched  lateral  appendages:  three,  more  proximal  in  position, 
one,  more  distal;  opaque  areas  absent  (Fig.  22). 

Gonads  well  developed  (right  ovary,  22  mm  long  or  22.4  per- 
cent of  SL,  containing  numerous  eggs  approximately  0.3  mm  in 
diameter) . 

Total  number  of  teeth  in  lower  jaw  14,  in  upper  jaw  22; 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


19 


Figure  20.  Caulophryne  polynema,  LACM  33923-1,  103  mm.  Drawn  by  Elizabeth  Anne  Hoxie. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979  . 310:1-25. 


20 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Figure  21.  Escae  of  Caulophryne  polynema:  A.  IOS,  100  mm;  B.  IOS,  110  mm.  Courtesy  of  G Brovard  and  E.  Bertelsen. 


vomerine  teeth  1;  D.  17,  A.  15,  P.  16-16  (Fig.  18,  Table  1). 

Measurements  in  percent  of  SL:  longest  tooth  in  lower  jaw  9.2; 
longest  dorsal  ray  95 + ; longest  anal  ray  95 +;  illicium  27.6  (Fig. 
16). 

Rest  of  characters  as  for  genus  and  family. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  MALE;  Upper  and  lower  denticulars  (Ber- 
telsen 1951:21)  embedded  in  an  unpigmented,  conical  papilla  on 
belly  of  female;  passageway  from  outside  into  pharynx  and  out 
through  gill  openings  retained  (Pietsch  1976:790);  eyes  well 
developed;  nostrils  degenerate;  gills  developed;  testes  large  (2.3 
mm  long,  19.2  percent  of  SL);  dorsal,  anal  and  pectoral-fin  ray 
counts  undetermined;  pelvics  absent;  characteristic  gelatinous 
envelope  of  larvae  absent;  entire  head  and  body  lightly  pigmented 
(Fig.  23). 

COMMENTS:  This  female  and  attached  male  cannot  reason- 
ably be  placed  within  the  material  of  any  of  the  three  recognized 
species  of  Caulophryne.  The  female  has  the  elongate,  branched 
escal  appendages  characteristic  of  C.  pelagic  a but  also  the  illicial 
filaments  found  only  in  C.  jordani  and  C.  polynema  (compare 
Figs.  17,  19,  21,  22).  The  illicium  appears  to  be  slightly  longer 
than  that  of  C.  jordani  and  C.  polynema,  but  shorter  than  that  of 
C.  pelagica  (Fig.  16).  Jaw  tooth  counts  are  at  the  bottom  of  the 
range  of  variation  for  females  of  all  species  combined  (Fig.  18). 
Finally,  fin-ray  counts  compare  best  with  C.  jordani  (Table  1). 

The  attached  male  (Fig.  23)  represents  the  second  example  of 
sexual  parasitism  in  the  Caulophrynidae.  It  does  not  differ  in  any 


significant  way  from  the  previously  described  specimen  (Bertel- 
sen 1951:37,  fig.  12). 


Caulophryne  setosus  Goode  and  Bean  1896 

NOMEN  NUDUM 

Caulophryne  setosus  Goode  and  Bean  1896:26*,  541,  fig.  409. 

COMMENTS:  This  name  appears  in  a figure  caption,  and  is 
entered  in  the  list  of  plates  and  index  of  Goode  and  Bean’s 
(1896)  original  description  of  Caulophryne  jordani,  without  ap- 
plication to  a description  or  type.  This  error  was  caught  by  Jor- 
dan and  Evermann  (1898:2735):  “plate  named  C.  setosus,  by  slip 
in  proof  reading.”  The  name  setosus  also  appears  in  the  cata- 
log of  fishes  of  the  National  Museum  of  Natural  History  (S.J. 
Kamella,  personal  communication). 


Caulophryne  racemosa  Monod  1960 

NOMEN  NUDUM 

Caulophryne  racemosa  Monod  1960:687,  fig.  80. 

COMMENTS:  This  name  appears  in  a figure  illustrating  stages 
of  specialization  of  lophiiform  pectoral  radials.  There  is  no  appli- 


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Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


21 


cation  to  a description  or  type.  No  doubt,  Monod  (1960)  meant  to 
refer  to  C.  ramulosa.  His  figure  was  taken  from  Regan  and  Tre- 
wavas’  (1932,  fig.  58)  illustration  of  the  pectoral  radials  of  the 
holotype  of  this  nominal  species. 

DISCUSSION 

The  discovery  of  yet  another  new  ceratioid  genus  brings  the 
total  number  of  genera  based  on  females  to  34.  Although  new 
forms  continue  to  be  described,  it  is  unlikely  that  the  total  number 
of  ceratioid  species  will  increase  significantly  (Bertelsen 
1951:28).  In  the  last  ten  years  19  forms  have  been  resurrected 
from  synonymy  or  described  as  new  (Pietsch  1969,  1972b,  1973, 
1974a,  b,  1975,  1978;  Bertelsen  1973;  Nolan  and  Rosenblatt 
1975).  During  this  same  time,  28  nominal  forms  have  fallen  into 
synonymy,  thus  actually  decreasing  the  number  of  recognized 
forms. 

More  so  than  any  other  ceratioid  group,  the  caulophrynids 
exhibit  a confusing  mosaic  of  primitive  and  derived  character 
states.  Utilizing  the  variation  found  within  the  entire  order  Lophi- 
iformes  as  representing  the  ancestral  character  pool  for  the 
Caulophrynidae,  the  following  character  states  that  describe 
Caulophryne  are  considered  primitive; 

1.  frontal  bones  short,  posterior  in  position,  meeting  on 
midline  in  front  of  supraoccipital  (this  is  the  condition  of 
the  frontals  in  lophioids  and  antennarioids;  and,  in  addi- 
tion to  caulophrynids  among  ceratioids,  the  Neocerati- 
idae). 

2.  illicial  trough  absent  (a  narrow  depression,  usually  run- 
ning the  full  length  of  the  cranium,  is  present  in  most 
ceratioids  to  receive  the  pterygiophore  of  the  illicium;  it 
is  absent  in  caulophrynids  and  neoceratiids  as  well  as  in 
lophioids  and  antennarioids). 

3.  dorsal  ceratohyal  process  present  (this  process  is  present 
in  lophioids  and  antennarioids,  but  absent  in  all  other 
ceratioids). 

4.  single  epural  present  (no  trace  of  an  epural  is  found  in 
any  other  ceratioid;  lophioids  and  antennarioids,  except 
for  brachionichthyids,  have  one  epural). 

5.  high  number  of  median-fin  rays  (although  Caulophryne 
exhibits  a slight  increase  over  the  already  high  number  of 
median-fin  rays  characteristic  of  lophioids  and  antennari- 
oids, this  probably  represents  a primitive  condition  over 
the  greatly  reduced  median- fin  ray  counts  of  most  other 
ceratioids;  exceptions  include  some  gigantactinids,  neo- 
ceratiids, and  melanocetids). 

6.  median-fin  rays  exceptionally  long  (like  those  of  larval 
and  young  lophioids  and  antennarioids,  but  unlike  any 
other  ceratioid). 

7.  sexual  dimorphism  in  the  illicial  apparatus  of  larval 
stages  possibly  absent  (the  16  known  caulophrynid  larvae 
all  have  a well  developed  outer  illicial  rudiment,  a struc- 
ture normally  found  only  in  female  ceratioids;  the  sex  of 
these  larvae  cannot  be  determined  from  examining  the 
gonads,  but  since  it  seems  unlikely  that  only  one  sex  is 
represented,  Bertelsen  (1951:31)  suggested  that  the  sex- 
ual dimorphism  characteristic  of  other  larval  ceratioids, 
but  absent  in  lophioids  and  antennarioids,  might  be 
absent  in  caulophrynids  as  well). 

8.  escal  bulb  absent  (the  esca  of  caulophrynids  is  not  a 
bulbous,  bacteria-containing  organ  as  in  other  ceratioids 


but  a tuft  of  filaments  like  that  of  many  lophioids  and 
antennarioids;  in  addition,  Bertelsen  (1951:31)  stated  that 
the  illicium  of  caulophrynid  larvae  “is  not  globular  or 
club-shaped  as  in  most  other  female  ceratioid  larvae,  but 
more  finger- like  as  in  certain  antennarioid  larvae.” 

9.  posteroventral  coracoid  process  present  (this  process  is 
also  found  in  antennarioids;  among  ceratioids  it  is  present 
in  ceratiids,  in  the  oneirodid  genera  Spiniphryne  and 
Oneirodes,  and  present,  but  cartilaginous  in  gigantacti- 
nids). 

10.  pectoral  fins  exceptionally  large,  especially  in  larvae  and 
young  (like  those  of  larval  and  young  lophioids  and 
antennarioids,  as  well  as  larval  gigantactinids  among 
ceratioids;  Bertelsen  1951:35,  148,  figs.  11,  99,  104). 

11.  pelvic  fins  retained  in  larval  stages  (pelvic  fins,  well 
developed  in  all  lophioids  and  antennarioids,  are  not 
present  in  larvae  or  adults  of  any  other  ceratioid). 

Caulophrynids  are  considered  derived  in  having  the  following 
character  states: 

1.  parietals  anterior  in  position,  far  removed  from  posttem- 
porals and  expanded  laterally. 

2.  pterosphenoid  absent  (also  absent  in  linophrynids  and 
gigantactinids). 

3.  anterior  maxillomandibular  ligament  absent  (also  absent 
in  linophrynids,  gigantactinids  and  neoceratiids). 

4.  dorsal  hypohyal  reduced  (absent  in  Gigantactis). 

5.  hyoid  apparatus  narrow  and  elongate  (similar  in  lino- 
phrynids, gigantactinids,  and  neoceratiids). 


Figure  22.  Esca  of  Caulophryne  sp.,  LACM  36025-1,  98.0  mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


22 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


Figure  23.  Caulophryne  sp.,  parasitic  male,  LACM  36025-1,  12.0  mm. 


6.  opercular  bones  reduced  (as  are  those  of  linophrynids, 
gigantactinids,  and  neoceratiids). 

7.  hypobranchials  and  basibranchials  absent  (all  hypobran- 
chials  are  absent  in  linophrynids  and  gigantactinids; 
hypobranchial  II  is  absent,  but  a small  hypobranchial  III 
is  present  in  neoceratiids;  all  basibranchials  are  absent  in 
ceratiids,  linophrynids,  gigantactinids  and  neoceratiids). 

8.  caudal  rays  8 (ceratiids  also  show  a reduction  in  the 
number  of  caudal  rays  to  8;  all  other  ceratioids  have  9; 
neoceratiids  occasionally  have  10,  Bertelsen  1951:159, 
table  36). 

9.  posttemporals  reduced,  overlapping  pterotics  and 
epiotics,  but  far  removed  from  parietals  and  exoccipitals 
(similarly  reduced  in  gigantactinids). 

10.  lower  portion  of  cleithrum  reduced  to  a slender  thread  of 
bone  (similarly  reduced  in  Gigantactis) . 

1 1 . pectoral  radial  number  reduced  by  fusion  to  2 (all  other 
adult  ceratioids  have  3 or  more  radials). 

12.  neuromasts  of  acoustico-lateralis  system  located  at  the 
tips  of  elongate  filaments  (this  specialization  is  unique  to 


caulophrynids;  Regan  and  Trewavas  1932:23,  24,  fig. 
16C). 

13.  illicial  filaments  present  in  some  species  (also  present  in 
some  species  of  Gigantactis). 

14.  males  known  to  become  sexually  parasitic  (Pietsch 
1976:788;  reproductive  mode  shared  by  ceratiids,  lino- 
phrynids, neoceratiids,  and  the  oneirodid  genus  Lep- 
tacanthichthys). 

Due  to  the  presence  of  a number  of  the  primitive  character 
states  listed  above  (7,  8,  11),  Bertelsen  (1951:28)  placed  the 
Caulophrynidae  “first  in  the  suborder.”  At  the  same  time,  he 
argued  that  the  Linophrynidae  showed  “such  a highly  specialized 
condition  that  they  must  be  placed  last.”  Since  members  of  both 
these  families  are  characterized  by  having  parasitic  males,  Bertel- 
sen’s classification  requires  that  this  mode  of  reproduction  evolved 
more  than  once.  For  unstated  reasons,  Greenwood,  et  al. 
(1966:397)  implied  a much  closer  relationship  between  the 
caulophrynids  and  linophrynids.  Likewise,  at  the  1975  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  American  Society  of  Ichthyologists  and  Herpe- 
tologists in  Williamsburg,  Virginia,  I reported  finding  numerous, 
derived  character  states  shared  by  these  two  families  as  well  as 
with  the  Gigantactinidae  and  Neoceratiidae.  Ignoring  all  primi- 
tive character  states  at  that  time,  I presented  a phylogeny  that 
argued  for  a monophyletic  origin  of  sexual  parasitism  within  a 
lineage  derived  from  some  oneirodid- like  ancestor  (Fig.  25;  see 
also  Pietsch  1976:791).  This  more  detailed  study  of  the  Caulo- 
phrynidae has  revealed  a considerable  number  of  additional 
resemblances  (albeit,  primitive  states)  to  less  derived  lophiiforms 
(lophioids  and  antennarioids)  that  can  hardly  be  ignored.  That 
these  primitive  character  states  suddenly  reappeared  in  a lineage 
that  arose  from  an  ancestor  derived  in  all,  is  highly  improbable; 
the  importance  of  recognizing  and  utilizing  primitive  character 
states  in  phylogenetic  analysis  is  apparent. 

A return  to  Bertelsen’ s (1951)  classification  is  proposed  in 


Figure  24.  Known  distribution  of  species  of  Caulophrynidae.  A single  symbol  may  represent  more  than  one  capture. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310: 1—25 . 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


23 


Figure  25.  Phylogenetic  relationships  of  families  of  Ceratioidei  based  on  shared  derived  character  states.  Starred  families  contain  species  known  to  have 
parasitic  males. 


Caulophrynidae*  Ceratiidae*  Gigantactinidae 


Neoceratiidae*  Linophrynidae*  Oneirodidae*  Thaumatichthyidae  Centrophrynidae 


Diceratiidae  Himantolophidae 


Melanocetidae 


Figure  26.  Phylogenetic  relationships  of  families  of  Ceratioidei  based  on  shared  primitive  as  well  as  derived  character  states.  Starred  families  contain 
species  known  to  have  parasitic  males. 


which  the  Caulophrynidae  forms  the  primitive  sister-group  of  the 
Melanocetidae,  Himantolophidae,  Diceratiidae,  Centrophrynidae, 
Gneirodidae  and  Thaumatichthyidae  (Fig.  26).  The  phylogenetic 
position  of  the  closely  related  families  Linophrynidae,  Gigantac- 
tinidae and  Neoceratiidae  (and  perhaps  the  Ceratiidae)  is 
unclear.  All  share  numerous  derived  character  states  among 
themselves  and  with  the  Caulophrynidae;  but,  most  of  these  are 
either  reduction  states  or  loss  of  parts,  conditions  that  are  found 


in  deepsea  groups  in  general  that  could  well  be  convergent  in 
origin.  This  seems  to  leave  two  alternatives:  either  this  assem- 
blage is  derived  from  a caulophrynid-like  ancestor,  thus  forming 
part  of  a sister-group  that  is  primitive  to  all  other  ceratioids , or  it 
is  derived  from  some  oneirodid-like  ancestor.  Clarification  of 
these  problems  must  await  further  comparative  studies;  but,  regard- 
less of  the  phylogenetic  position  of  the  Linophrynidae  and  its 
allies,  this  interpretation,  while  recognizing  the  basal  position  of 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


24 


Pietsch:  Caulophrynid  anglerfishes 


the  Caulophrynidae,  indicates  a return  to  Bertelsen’s  (1951)  view 
that  sexual  parasitism  has  evolved  independently  in  at  least  two 
separate  ceratioid  lineages. 

Three  characters  are  available  for  interpreting  intrafamiliar 
relationships: 

1.  median-fin  ray  counts.  Within  Caulophryne  there  is  a 
trend  toward  an  increase  in  the  number  of  dorsal  and 
anal-fin  rays  over  the  already  high  number  of  rays  charac- 
teristic of  lophioids  and  antennarioids.  Robia,  on  the  other 
hand,  has  a greatly  reduced  number  of  median-fin  rays. 
The  extremes  of  these  opposite  trends  are  both  considered 
derived  character  states. 

2.  illicium  length.  Elongation  of  the  illicium  is  a trend  found 
in  several  other  ceratioid  groups  (Pietsch  1972b,  1974a,  b, 
1975).  The  short  illicia  of  Caulophryne  species  is  a primi- 
tive condition;  the  extremely  elongate  illicium  of  Robia  is 
derived. 

3.  illicial  filaments.  Within  other  ceratioid  groups  there  is  a 
trend  toward  an  increase  in  morphological  complexity  of 
the  illicial  apparatus  (Pietsch  1972b,  1974a,  1975).  Fila- 
ments present  along  the  length  of  the  illicium  of  C.  jor- 
dani  and  C.  polynema  (absent  in  all  other  ceratioids  except 
for  some  species  of  Gigantactis)  is  considered  a derived 
state. 

This  character  analysis  indicates  that  Robia,  with  its  greatly 
reduced  median-fin  ray  counts  and  extremely  elongate  illicium,  is 
the  more  derived  of  the  two  caulophrynid  genera.  Caulophryne 
pelagica  has  a longer  illicium  than  its  congeners,  but  is  consid- 
ered the  least  derived  member  of  the  genus,  having  the  lowest 
median-fin  ray  counts  and  lacking  illicial  filaments.  Caulophryne 
jordani  and  C.  polynema  appear  to  be  more  closely  related  to 
each  other  than  either  is  to  C.  pelagica;  both  exhibit  an  increase 
in  the  number  of  median-fin  rays  and  share  the  presence  of  illicial 
filaments.  Caulophryne  polynema  is  the  most  derived  member  of 
the  group  having  the  highest  median-fin  ray  counts  and  the  most 
complex  illicial  structure. 


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I thank  E.  Bertelsen  for  critically  reading  the  manuscript.  The 
following  people  and  their  institutions  provided  material:  A. 
Wheeler  (BMNH);  N.  Merrett  and  J.  Badcock  (IOS);  G.  Krefft 
(ISH);  R.  J.  Lavenberg  and  J.W.  Neumann  (LACM);  K.F.  Liem 
and  K.  Hartel  (MCZ);  W.B.  Scott  and  A.  Emery  (ROM);  R.H. 
Gibbs  and  S.  Kamella  (USNM);  E.  Bertelsen  and  J.  Nielsen 
(ZMUC);  T.A.  Clarke  (Hawaii  Institute  of  Marine  Science);  and 
B.H.  Robison  (Marine  Science  Institute,  University  of  California 
Santa  Barbara).  Additional  thanks  go  to  J.  Nielsen  and  M.L. 
Bauchot  for  providing  data  on  the  holotype  of  Ceratocaulophryne 
regani.  Figure  14  was  made  by  Caryl  Maloof  and  figure  20  by 
Elizabeth  Anne  Hoxie.  Geert  Brovad  (ZMUC)  provided  photo- 
graphs used  in  figure  2 1 . 

The  work  was  supported  by  National  Science  Foundation 
Grants  GB-40700  and  DEB  76-82279.  Partial  assistance  from  the 
Johannes  Schmidt  Fund  of  the  University  of  Copenhagen  and  the 
Office  of  Graduate  Studies  and  Research,  California  State  Uni- 
versity, Long  Beach,  is  also  gratefully  acknowledged. 


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Accepted  for  publication  January  5,  1978. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  310:1-25. 


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Number  3 1 1 
March  16,  1979 

CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 

NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  

Paltostoma  Schiner  

Paltostoma  costaricensis  new  species 

Paltostoma  delectata  Alexander  

Paltostoma  diriageni  new  species  .... 

Paltostoma  exserta  new  species  

Paltostoma  zwicki  new  species  

Acknowledgments  

Resumen  

Literature  Cited  

Figures  1-40  


...  3 
...  3 
...  4 
...  5 
...  6 
....  7 
....  8 
....  8 
....  9 
....  9 
10  ff 


The  Science  Bulletin  and  Contributions  in  Science  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
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Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


3 


THE  FAMILY  BLEPHARICERIDAE  IN  COSTA  RICA 

(D1PTERA)1 

By  Charles  L.  Hogue2 


ABSTRACT:  Five  species  of  net-winged  midges  of  the  family  Blephariceridae  are  recorded  for  Costa  Rica. 
All  belong  to  the  genus  Paltostoma;  one  was  previously  known  ( delectata  Alexander)  but  the  remaining  are 
described  here  as  new  species  ( costaricensis , diriageni,  exserta  and  zwicki).  The  paper  includes  also  a 
diagnosis  and  biologic  notes  on  the  genus. 


The  Blephariceridae  or  “net-winged”  midges  are  notable  in 
the  extreme  adaptations  they  exhibit  for  life  in  torrential  water. 
Six  mid-ventral  suckers  permit  the  larvae  to  hold  fast  and 
travel  from  place  to  place  on  smooth  rock  surfaces  in  the 
fastest  currents,  in  waterfalls  and  cataracts;  the  pupae  are 
attached  permanently  to  the  substratum  by  ventrolateral  adhesive 
pads.  The  adults  are  capable  of  emergence  while  totally  sub- 
mersed. This  takes  place  through  an  explosive  egress  of  the  body 
from  the  pupal  case  and  unfolding  of  the  appendages,  followed 
by  immediate  flight.  Such  rapid  escape  is  made  possible  by  prior 
development  and  expansion  of  the  wings  and  legs  within  the 
pupal  case.  The  process  requires  compression  and  folding  of  the 
complete  wing  and  causes  numerous  creases  to  form  in  its  mem- 
brane, giving  it  the  reticulate  appearance  from  which  the  family 
receives  its  common  name. 

Although  occurring  widely  in  the  Neotropical  Region,  the 
Blephariceridae  are  seldom  collected.  Consequently,  our  knowl- 
edge of  species  distributions  is  fragmentary  and  the  family’s 
regional  taxonomy  is  in  a rudimentary  state  (Hogue  1971).  Five 
genera  are  presently  recognized  (including  the  very  primitive 
Edwardsina,  with  species  also  in  Australia),  all  apparently  hav- 
ing austral  origins.  Of  these,  evidently  only  Paltostoma  has 
extended  northward  through  Central  America,  penetrating  Mex- 
ico along  the  Sierra  Madre  Occidental  to  latitude  21°  N (unpub- 
lished record).  The  genus  also  occurs  on  several  Caribbean 
islands. 

The  Costa  Rican  fauna  includes  5 species.  The  first  known  was 
delectata,  described  by  Alexander  in  1953  from  2 males,  and 
which,  until  my  recent  collecting,  remained  the  sole  regional  rep- 
resentatives of  the  family.  This  paper  adds  4 additional  species 
and  provides  descriptions  and  illustrations  by  which  all  may  be 
recognized.  Because  little  collecting  has  been  accomplished  and 
speciation  seems  to  have  occurred  between  populations  that  are 
only  narrowly  separated  geographically,  there  remain  strong  pos- 
sibilities for  discovery  of  still  other  forms. 

The  descriptions  of  the  adults  are  based  largely  on  pharate 
specimens  dissected  from  their  pupal  cases.  Therefore,  measure- 
ments of  legs  and  wings,  as  well  as  color  pattern  characters,  are 
not  determinable.  Quantitative  data  are  given  in  millimeters  and 


represent  means  calculated  from  small  samples,  hence  ranges  are 
omitted.  Terminology  follows  that  of  Hogue  1973  and  1978. 

Paltostoma  Schiner 

Paltostoma  presently  contains  13  named  species,  including 
those  newly  described  in  this  paper.  Material  of  several  more 
exists  in  collections  and,  surely,  more  will  be  discovered  when 
streams  are  sampled  in  the  vast  Andean  Mountain  system.  The 
genus  is  characterized  as  follows: 

DESCRIPTIONS 

Adult 

COLORATION:  Generally  well  sclerotized;  velvety  brown 
with  sharply  defined,  silvery  (“frosty”)  or  opalescent  reflections 
which  vary  in  position  depending  on  the  angle  of  viewing. 

SIZE:  Small  to  medium-sized  Blephariceridae;  wing  length 
4.5-9  mm. 

HEAD:  Small.  Normal  type.  Suprafrons  very  broad,  flat; 
frontal  carina  absent.  Parietal  sclerite  very  narrow.  Ocelli  sessile, 
separate,  on  slightly  elevated  boss.  Eyes  disjunct;  undifferen- 
tiated into  upper  and  lower  divisions;  ommatidia  all  of  approxi- 
mately equal  size. 

MOUTHPARTS:  Male.  — Proboscis  very  long  (PL/HW  2.5). 
Labium  jointed  near  base.  Labrum  rigid,  slender;  apex  attenuate. 
Margin  of  hypopharynx  entire,  a few  spicules  apically.  Maxillary 
lobes  very  long,  approximately  half  the  length  of  labium.  Label- 
lar  lobes  small,  length  slightly  greater  than  width  of  labium. 
Palpus  very  short,  segments  1-3  fused,  4-5  absent;  sensory  pit 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Charles  P.  Alexander 
Julian  P.  Donahue 
Roy  R.  Snelling 
Peter  Zwick 

2Senior  Curator,  Section  of  Entomology,  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los 
Angeles  County,  900  Exposition  Boulevard,  Los  Angeles,  California 
90007. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


4 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


of  segment  3 terminal.  Mandibles  absent.  Female.  — Proboscis 
moderately  long  (PL/HW  1.4).  Labium  jointed  at  about  mid- 
length. Labrum  rigid,  broad,  apex  acute.  Lateral  margin  of  hypo- 
pharynx  serrate,  apex  with  lateral  hair- like  projections.  Maxillary 
lobes  short,  slightly  less  than  half  the  length  of  labrum.  Labellar 
lobes  very  short,  length  less  than  width  of  labium.  Palpus  very 
short,  segments  1-3  distinct,  4-5  absent;  sensory  pit  of  segment 
3 terminal.  Mandibles  present. 

ANTENNA:  Length  1.5-  1.8  head  width,  that  of  male  slightly 
longer  proportionately  (1.8- 1.9);  15-segmented.  Scape  globular, 
pedicel  canopiform3,  flagellomeres  cylindriform,  length  of  latter 
about  2.0  width;  flagellar  segments  1-5  each  with  a small  group 
of  placoid  sensilla  dorsally. 

WING:  Venation  (Fig.  14)  reduced:  R2,  R3,  M3,  and  basal 
sector  of  M3+4  absent;  1A  reduced;  R2_5  long;  branch  of  R4  and 
R5  near  apex  of  wing.  Dorsal  macrotrichia  on  vein  Rs  only,  a 
few  also  ventrally  at  apex  of  this  vein.  Wing  shape  broad  (L/W 
2.9),  anal  lobe  moderately  developed. 

LEGS:  Tibial  spur  formula  0-0-1  in  both  sexes,  hind  tibial 
spur  large,  minutely  spiculate  on  inner  surface.  Tarsal  segment  5 
longer  than  4,  a group  of  spiniform  setae  ventrobasally.  Tarsal 
claws  each  with  a single,  large  sub-basal  tooth. 

ABDOMEN:  Short,  strongly  tapered  posteriorly. 

MALE  GENITALIA:  Segments  VIII  and  IX  unmodified.  IXth 
tergite  lobes  triangular,  a strong  ventral  armature  produced  from 
the  lateral  margin  of  each  lobe,  its  arms  converging  anteriorly. 
Basistyle  elongate,  longer  than  dististyle.  Outer  dististyle  broad, 
rectangular,  variously  incised  and  setose.  Inner  dististyle  undi- 
vided, a long,  curved,  irregular  finger.  Phallosome  vesica  trian- 
gular; apodeme  longer  than  vesica,  a vertical,  oval  flange.  Para- 
meres  undeveloped  as  separate,  distinct  tubular  structures,  their 
morphological  position  assumed  by  a broad,  apically  reflexed 
plate  (“ventral  plate”4  of  Stuckenberg  1958:101,  see  Fig.  9). 
Penis  filaments  3,  all  simple,  very  long,  straight  rods,  without 
special  apical  modifications.  Tegmen  narrow,  anchor- shaped; 
base  small,  forming  a shallow  subanal  pouch;  apex  broadly  spat- 
ulate;  margin  recurved.  Lateral  portion  of  ventral  bridge  (Fig.  8) 
forming  a complex  curved  plate  weakly  continuous  with  the  ven- 
tral bridge  proper. 

FEMALE  GENITALIA:  VUIth  stemite  lobe  elongate,  median 
fold  deep,  wide,  Oviscapt  elongate,  apical  lobes  extended  latero- 
posteriorly,  a ventral,  transverse  fl-shaped  apodeme  present  in 
inner  piece.  Spermathecae  ovoid;  ducts  very  long,  exit  from  body 
of  spermatheca  laterally,  their  proximal  sections  coiled  1 to  sev- 
eral times  around  body  before  leading  to  gonotreme.  Sensilla  of 
cercus  all  chaetiform,  apical  tubular  sensilla  absent;  a short,  sub- 
apical,  ventral  finger-like  lobe  extending  posteriorly  from  the 
cercus. 

CHAETOTAXY:  Body  without  long  hairs.  Setal  groups  mini- 
mal and  inconspicuous.  Occipital  bristles  of  head  short,  scattered 
and  not  differentiated  into  upper  and  lower  series.  Postgenal 
bristles  very  few  (1-3). 

Larva 

Intercalary  convexities  undeveloped.  Head  capsule  with  deep 
lateral  incisions.  Antenna  short,  2- segmented.  Dorsal  pseudopods 
and  sclerotized  major  plates  and  processes  absent.  Dorsal  integ- 
ument densely  striate.  Ventral  gill  filaments  stellate  in  arrange- 
ment, 9-10  (usually  10)  in  number.  Primary  trunk  sensilla 
recognizable  as  follows:  ic  (on  anterior  margin  of  division,  rather 
than  at  level  of  intercalary  portion),  short,  chaetiform;  very  small 
it  (in  normal  positions  on  divisions  II- VI);  moderately  long 


chaetiform  sensilla  st  (P,  I-V),  psu  (M-T),  tp  (II- V),  ss  (P-T, 
in  line)  and  pd  (I- VI).  Secondary  sensilla  in  two  fields  on  dor- 
sum: small,  scattered  capitate  to  conoid  types  generally  and  simi- 
larly shaped  but  much  larger  types  in  linear  series  antero-  and 
posterolateral Iy  on  each  division,  the  latter  often  flattened  and 
tending  to  close  interlobular  spaces  dorsally.  Terminal  setae 
reduced  in  size  and  number  to  1-2. 

Pupa 

Elliptical  to  oval  in  outline,  cross-section  hemi-oval,  flat.  Lat- 
eral margins  underfolded.  Dorsal  cuticle  of  all  sclerites  except 
cephalic  and  alar  densely  set  with  long  spines;  those  middorsally 
flanked  basally  with  2 or  more  very  short  spinelets  (spines  often 
lacking  in  specimens  suffering  from  rough  handling  or  stream 
abrasion).  Respiratory  processes  erect,  disjunct  at  base;  individ- 
ual plates  (lamellae)  rigid,  triangular,  with  acute  apices;  inner 
plates  smaller  and  weaker  than  outer.  Antennal  cases  short, 
extending  to  a level  less  than  apex  of  the  mouthpart  cases. 
Ventral  adhesive  pads  four  in  number. 

DISTRIBUTION:  Restricted  to  Neotropical  Region  between 
latitudes  25°  S and  21°  N,  Pacific  Cordillera  and  Caribbean  Is- 
lands. See  the  map  (Fig.  40)  for  the  distribution  of  species  in 
Costa  Rica. 

Paltostoma  costaricensis  new  species 

Figures  1-2,  5-9,  25,  27-29,  37,  40 

DIAGNOSIS 

This  species  may  be  distinguished  by  the  following  combina- 
tion of  characteristics  of  the  male  genitalia:  long  penis  filaments 
with  gradually  widened  bases.  Broadly  rounded,  improminent 
IXth  tergite  lobe;  arms  of  ventral  armatures  of  the  lobes  contigu- 
ous and  fused  anteriorly.  Outer  dististyle  incised  apicoventrally, 
the  dissected  portion  forming  a thumblike  projection. 

It  is  also  decidedly  smaller  than  any  other  Costa  Rican  Palto- 
stoma. Although  comparable  measurements  for  most  structures 
are  not  available  because  of  the  lack  of  fully  developed  speci- 
mens of  both  sexes  of  all  the  species,  the  fact  is  readily  apparent 
from  general  inspection.  Head  widths  and  lengths  of  wing  vein 
Rs,  characters  which  could  be  compared  among  all  species,  indi- 
cate that  costaricensis  is  approximately  20%  smaller  than  either 
zwicki  or  delectata  and  40%  smaller  than  diriageni  and  exserta. 
DESCRIPTIONS 

Male  (Figs.  1,  5-9) 

A composite  description,  based  on  four  pharate  specimens  dis- 
sected from  their  pupal  cases: 

COLORATION:  Not  determinable,  probably  similar  to  that  of 
female  (see  below). 

SIZE:  A small  Paltostoma.  Measurements  as  follows  (from  3 
pharate  specimens):  Wing  and  leg  dimensions  not  determinable. 
Head  width  0.66.  Clypeus-labrum  length  combined  1.76.  Palpal 
segments  1-3  combined  0.20. 

HEAD  (Fig.  1):  Palpal  segment  proportions  indeterminable, 
fusion  of  segments  1-3  complete,  no  perceptible  constrictions  or 
joints.  Antennal  segment  proportions  1.3,  1.6,  1.00,  1.0,  1.1, 


3Shape  like  a typical  Egyptian  canopic  jar. 

4This  homology  is  questionable,  however.  Comparative  anatomical 
studies  are  needed;  the  term  is  used  here  for  convenience  only. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


5 


1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.4.  Ultimate  segment 
1.3  length  of  penultimate. 

LEGS:  Segment  proportions  not  available. 

WING:  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  (Figs.  5-9):  IXth  tergite  lobe  improminent,  apex 
broadly  rounded;  arms  of  ventral  armature  contiguous  anteriorly. 
Outer  dististyle  incised  apicoventrally,  the  dissected  ventro- 
median  portion  forming  a thumb-like  projection.  Inner  dististyle 
simple,  smoothly  curved  and  tapered,  slightly  capitate.  Tegmen 
elongate,  narrow,  with  two  parallel  straplike  sclerotizations;  basal 
portion  narrow,  articulating  with  the  contiguous  arms  of  the  ven- 
tral armature  of  the  IXth  tergite  lobes . Phallosome  totally  lacking 
parameres;  penis  filaments  evenly  tapered,  only  slightly  widened 
basad. 

Female  (Figs.  2,  25) 

Based  primarily  on  specimen  from  Golfito;  head  structures 
from  Rincon  series: 

COLORATION:  Head.  — All  sclerites  medium-brown,  darker 
towards  vertex  and  posteriorly,  with  extensive  velvety  texture 
and  silvery  opalescent  reflections;  ocellar  triangle  dark-brown. 
Mouthparts  and  antenna  dull  medium-brown,  the  latter  darker. 
Thorax.  — Generally  medium-brown.  Scutum,  scutellum,  anterior 
pronotum  and  ventral  portions  of  epistemum  and  meron  darker; 
extensive  silvery  opalescent  reflections  as  on  head;  remaining 
sclerites  and  membranous  portions  dull  yellow-brown.  Disc  of 
scutum  with  dark-brown,  parallel,  median  vittae  separated  from  a 
more  posterior,  broad,  V-shaped,  dark-brown  vitta  bordering  the 
transverse  suture.  Legs.  — Generally  dull  medium-brown,  lighter 
basad,  darker  abruptly  distad  (before  apices  of  tibiae),  including 
tarsi  and  claws.  Wing.  — Membrane  hyaline;  veins  brownish- 
black.  Haltere.  — Stem  light-brown  basad,  darkening  distad; 
knob  velvety  gray-brown.  Abdomen.  — Color  characteristics  not 
available. 

SIZE:  Measurements  as  follows  (from  5 pharate  and  one 
mature  specimen):  Body  length  not  determinable.  Wing  length 
6.8,  width  2.3.  Head  width  0.84.  Clypeus  length  0.39.  Labrum 
length  0.67.  Palpal  segments  2-3:  0.16,  0.22.  Leg  segment 
lengths  as  below  (from  Golfito  specimen): 


fore 

mid 

hind 

femur 

4.4 

5.7 

7.1 

tibia 

5.4 

5.5 

6.3 

tarsus  1 

1.89 

2.00 

2.06 

2 

0.79 

0.86 

0.43 

3 

0.41 

0.44 

0.24 

4 

0.26 

0.28 

0.21 

5 

0.28 

0.26 

0.25 

HEAD  (Fig.  2):  Palpus  very  short,  segments  1-3  distinct, 
proportions  2-3:  1.0,  1.4.  Antennal  segment  proportions:  1.0, 
1.5,  1.00,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.1,  1.0,  1.1, 
1.8;  ultimate  segment  1.6  length  of  penultimate. 

LEGS:  Progressive  segment  proportions  as  below: 


foreleg 

1.0 

1.2 

0.4 

0.4 

0.5 

0.6 

1.1 

midleg 

1.0 

1.0 

0.4 

0.4 

0.5 

0.6 

0.9 

hindleg 

1.0 

0.9 

0.3 

0.2 

0.6 

0.9 

1.2 

WING:  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  (Fig.  25):  Oviscapt  broad,  ratio  length/width  = 
1.3.  Setae  of  VHlth  sternite  lobe  short,  10-  14  in  number. 

Pupa  (Fig.  37) 

SIZE:  Small.  Measurements  (N=10):  male,  length  2.9,  width 
1.7;  female,  length  4.3,  width  2.5. 


STRUCTURE:  Outline  elongate-oval,  L/W  1.7,  strongly  con- 
vex, cross  section  hemispherical,  peripheral  margin  rounded. 
Cephalic  sclerite  strongly  underfolded  (to  level  of  tips  of  palpus 
case).  Cuticular  spines  proportionately  long,  longest  lateral 
spines  about  as  long  or  slightly  longer  than  mid-dorsal  length  of 
scutellar  sclerite;  numerous  spines  in  mesoposterior  region  of 
scutum;  parabasal  spinelets,  when  present,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  major  spine  and  mostly  of  equal  length.  Lamellae  of  respira- 
tory processes  divergent,  no.  1 much  so,  projecting  anteriorly 
beyond  body  margin;  subequal  in  length;  outer  pair  heavier  than 
inner  and  triangular;  inner  pair  0.6- 0.7  width  of  outer  at  their 
bases,  no.  2 the  smallest;  apex  of  no.  3 slightly  attenuate  and 
tortuate,  curving  around  inner  margin  of  no.  2. 

Larva  (Figs.  27-29) 

SIZE:  Small.  Measurements  (N=10):  Body  length  5.0;  head 
capsule  width  1.26. 

CHAETOTAXY  (trunk  segments  only):  Secondary  dorsal  sen- 
silla  all  small  and  coniform;  those  of  antero-  and  posterolateral 
linear  series  larger  and  coniform  to  clavate,  the  latter  more  poorly 
developed  dorsomesad. 

STRUCTURE:  Pseudopods  short,  L/W  about  2.3,  arising  from 
ventrolateral  depression.  Posterolateral  lobe  of  anal  division 
poorly  developed,  apex  directed  caudad.  Lateral  margin  of  anal 
division  entire,  a cluster  of  secondary  coniform  sensilla  with 
large  alveoli  situated  on  a slight  boss  anterior  to  posterolateral 
lobe.  Posterior  extreme  of  anal  segment  not  excessively  pig- 
mented nor  sclerotized,  the  margin  a smoothly  rounded  arc  con- 
tinuous with  lateral  margin.  Ventral  integument  mesal  to  base  of 
pseudopod  strigose  over  only  a small  area  immediately  mesal  to 
insertion  of  pseudopod. 

MATERIAL  AND  TYPE  LOCALITY: 

Types.  COSTA  RICA,  Puntarenas  Province,  1.8  miles  W Rincon,  Lin- 
guita  Creek,  11  March  1971,  C.L.  Hogue  and  J.R  Donahue:  HOLOTYPE  6 
(pharate,  dissected  from  and  mounted  entire  on  slide  series  No.  CLH  73- 
16a-e:  LACM);  ALLOTYPE  9 (pharate,  dissected  from  and  mounted 
entire  on  slide  series  No.  CLH  73-156a-e:  LACM);  66 , 5 9 PARATYPES 
(pharate  adults  mounted  entire  on  slide  series). 

Additional.  COSTA  RICA,  Alajuela  Province,  0.7  miles  W Grecia,  Rio 
Vigia,  18  June  1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (1  larva:  LACM).  Puntarenas  Province, 
Golfito,  15  August  1957,  A.S.  Menke  (19:  LACM).  Las  Cruces,  (rock 
quarry)  6 miles  S San  Vito  de  Jaba,  Rio  Jaba,  22  March  1967,  R.W. 
McDiarmid,  RWM  21  (2  pupae,  14  larvae:  LACM).  27  June  1972,  C.L. 
Hogue  (2  pupae,  21  larvae:  LACM).  1.8  miles  W Rincon,  Linguita  Creek,  3 
July  1963,  C.L.  Hogue  (2  larvae:  LACM).  II  March  1971,  C.L.  Hogue  and 
J.P.  Donahue  (32  pupae  and  pupal  skins,  24  larvae:  LACM). 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  species  is  named  for  Costa  Rica,  its  coun- 
try of  origin. 

Paltostoma  delectata  Alexander 

Figures  12-14,  30-33,  40 

Paltostoma  delectata  Alexander  1958:47.  Type  locality:  Costa  Rica,  San 
Jose  Province,  Rio  Buena  Vista,  Rivas.  Deposited  in  private  collec- 
tion of  C.P.  Alexander,  Amherst,  Massachusetts. 

Paltostoma  delectata,  Hogue  1971:8.7. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

Male  (Figs.  12-  14) 

From  the  original  description  and  the  single  paratopotype: 

COLORATION:  Head.  — Front  dull-orange,  silvery  pruinose, 
mouthparts  pale-brown;  remainder  of  head  chestnut-brown, 
variegated  with  silvery  on  the  anterior  vertex.  Antenna.  — Not 
determinable.  Thorax.  — Scutum  chestnut-brown,  including  four 
broad  confluent  prescutal  stripes,  leaving  broad  silvery  areas  on 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


6 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


the  posterior  pronotum  and  at  the  prolongations  of  the  [parapsi- 
dal?]  “suture.”  Lateral  sclerites  yellow.  Legs.  — ”...  coxae 
and  trochanters  yellow;  forefemora  chiefly  black,  more  bright- 
ened basally  and  with  a very  obscure  yellow  to  scarcely  evident 
subterminal  yellow  ring;  remaining  femora  yellow,  the  extreme 
tips  brownish  black;  foretibiae  and  tarsi  black,  the  remaining  tarsi 
obscure  brownish  yellow.  ...”  Wing.  — Membrane  hyaline; 
vein  brownish  black  to  black.  Haltere.  — Stem  yellow,  knob 
blackened.  Abdomen.  — First  tergite  yellow,  the  remainder 
brown,  their  extreme  bases  paler  and  more  or  less  pruinose.  Ster- 
nites  more  extensively  yellow,  silvery  pruinose  beneath,  the  sides 
infuscated.  Genitalia.  — Dark-brown. 

SIZE:  Measurements  as  follows  (from  paratopotype):  Body 
length  3.5.  Wing  length  4.9,  width  1.9.  Head  width  0.80. 
Clypeus-labrum  length  combined  1.55.  Palpal  segments  2-3, 
lengths  not  available.  Leg  segment  lengths  as  below: 


fore 

mid 

hind 

femur 

2.9 

3.8 

4.9 

tibia 

3.5 

3.7 

4.4 

tarsus  1 

1.41 

1.58 

n.a. 

2 

0.57 

0.63 

n.a. 

3 

0.27 

0.30 

n.a. 

4 

0.16 

0.16 

n.a. 

5 

0.25 

0.24 

n.a. 

HEAD:  Exact  palpal  segment  proportions  not  determinable 
from  material,  but  the  palpus  is  very  short  and  similar  to  that  of 
the  other  species  with  two  segments  (morphologically,  segments 
2-3  fused).  The  indistinct  intersegmental  articulation  2-3, 
common  to  this  organ  in  male  Paltostoma,  probably  led  to  Alex- 
ander’s remark  in  the  original  description  that  the  palpus  is 
apparently  1 -segmented.  Antennal  segment  proportions:  1.0,  1.1, 
LOO,  1.0,  1.0,  1.1,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.0,  1.5. 
Ultimate  segment  1.5  length  of  penultimate. 

LEGS:  Progressive  segment  proportions  as  below: 


foreleg 

1.0 

1.2 

0.4 

0.4 

0.5 

0.6 

1.6 

midleg 

1.0 

1.0 

0.4 

0.4 

0.5 

0.5 

1.5 

hindleg 

1.0 

0.9 

n.a. 

n.a. 

n.a. 

n.a. 

n.a. 

WING  (Fig.  14):  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  (Figs.  12-13):  IXth  tergite  lobe  prominent, 
symmetrically  triangular,  apex  broadly  acute;  arms  of  ventral 
armature  contiguous  cephalad.  Margin  of  outer  dististyle  entire, 
obtusely  rectangular.  Inner  dististyle  simple,  apex  slightly  spatu- 
late.  Tegmen  elongate,  narrow;  apex  truncate;  basal  portion  nar- 
row, articulating  with  the  contiguous  arms  of  ventral  armature  of 
IXth  tergite  lobes.  Phallosome  lacking  parameres,  longitudinal 
striae  evident  in  ventral  plate;  penis  filaments  short,  evenly 
tapered,  only  slightly  widened  basad,  basal  fourth  alveolate. 

Female 

Unknown. 

Pupa  (Not  figured) 

SIZE:  Medium.  Measurements  (N  = 5):  all  females  (?),  length 
5.0,  width  3.6. 

STRUCTURE:  Outline  elliptical,  L/W  1.4- 1.5,  compressed, 
cross  section  hemilenticular,  peripheral  margin  acute.  Cephalic 
sclerite  underfolded  only  a little  more  than  half  the  distance  to 
level  of  tips  of  palpus  cases.  Anterior  margin  of  scutellar  sclerite 
shallowly  U-shaped.  Cuticular  spines  proportionately  long,  longest 
lateral  spines  slightly  longer  than  middorsal  length  of  scutellar 
sclerite;  only  two  spines  in  mesoposterior  corner  of  scutum;  para- 
basal spinelets  commonly  multiple  (2-4)  and  of  unequal  length. 


Lamellae  of  respiratory  processes  parallel,  erect,  subequal  in 
length;  outer  pair  heavier  than  inner  and  triangular,  inner  pair 
about  0.5  width  of  outer  at  their  bases;  no.  3 the  smallest  and 
narrower  than  no.  2 and  set  mesad  of  same;  apices  of  both  inner 
lamellae  straight;  apices  of  lamellae  no.  4 of  each  side  conver- 
gent. 

Larva  (Figs.  30-33) 

SIZE:  Medium.  Measurements  (N=10):  Body  length  6.1;  head 
capsule  width  1.41 . 

CHAETOTAXY  (trunk  segments  only):  General  secondary 
dorsal  sensilla  mostly  small  and  coniform,  grading  to  larger  and 
spiniform  laterad;  a triplet  (short  series  of  3,  rarely  2)  of  con- 
spicuously larger  spiniform  sensilla  in  the  anterolateral  and  pos- 
terolateral tergal  regions  (latter  triplet  lateral  to  primary  subtergal 
sensillum,  tp,).  Sensilla  of  antero-  and  posterolateral  linear  series 
large  and  spiniform;  lateral  and  ventral  members  of  both  series 
with  apices  acuminate  and  sometimes  multiple. 

STRUCTURE:  Pseudopods  elongate,  L/W  about  3.5;  arising 
from  near  apex  of  pleuron.  Posterolateral  lobe  of  anal  division 
well  developed,  about  half  the  size  of  the  pseudopods,  its  apex 
directed  posterolaterad.  Lateral  margin  of  anal  division  entire,  set 
with  a few  larger  spiniform  secondary  sensilla.  Posterior  extreme 
of  anal  division  densely  pigmented  and  heavily  sclerotized  and 
separated  from  posterolateral  lobes  by  a deep  depression.  Ventral 
integument  mesal  to  insertion  of  pseudopod  mammillate  over  a 
broad  area,  the  mammillae  spinose  laterad,  grading  to  papillae 
mesad. 

MATERIAL: 

COSTA  RICA.  San  Jose  Province.  2 miles  W Grecia,  Rio  Trojas,  18  June 
1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (7  pupae,  24  larvae:  LACM).  Pan  American  Highway  and 
Rio  Cajon,  22  June  1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (11  larvae:  LACM).  Pan  American 
Highway  and  Rio  Union,  22  June  1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (1  larva:  LACM).  Rivas, 
January  1934.  D.  Rounds  (Holotype  6 , 1 paratype  6 : Alexander  Collection). 
10  miles  E San  Isidro  del  General,  Rio  General,  22  June  1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (1 
larva:  LACM).  1.8  miles  S San  Isidro  del  General,  Rio  Pedregoso,  28  June 
1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (24  larvae:  LACM). 

REMARKS 

Unfortunately,  delectata  is  imperfectly  known.  The  larva  and 
pupa  described  here,  although  slightly  large  for  the  size  of  the 
adult,  I judge  to  belong  to  this  species  since  they  were  taken  in 
the  same  drainage  system  (Rio  General)  from  whence  the  holo- 
type comes  (see  Fig.  40).  However,  there  are  no  collections  of 
early  stages  associated  with  adults  to  confirm  this. 

Paltostoma  diriageni  new  species 

Figures  3-4,  15-19,  26,  34-36,  38,  40 
DIAGNOSIS 

Male  genitalic  features  as  follows  set  this  species  apart  from  its 
relatives:  long  penis  filaments,  gradually  widening  basally;  bases 
of  these  structures  non-alveolate  internally.  IXth  tergite  lobe 
asymmetrically  triangular  (similar  to  that  of  zwicki  but  the  two 
lobes  more  divergent);  arms  of  ventral  armature  widely  separated 
anteriorly.  Margin  of  outer  dististyle  entire. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

Male  (Figs.  3,  15-  19) 

Based  on  3 pharate  specimens  dissected  from  their  pupal  cases: 

COLORATION:  Not  determinable. 

SIZE:  Measurements  as  follows:  wing  and  leg  dimensions  not 
determinable.  Head  width  1. 16.  Clypeus-labrum  length  combined 
2.88.  Palpal  segments  2-3  combined  0.35. 

HEAD  (Fig.  3):  Palpus  very  short,  segments  2-3  fused 
although  limit  of  former  marked  by  enlarged  setae;  segment  1 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


7 


distinct,  2-3  constricted  at  presumed  joint;  segment  proportions 
1:(1:0.5).  Antenna!  segment  proportions:  1.0,  1.5,  1.00,  1.2, 
1.3,  1.3,  1.3,  1.2,  1.2,  1.2,  1.3,  1.3,  1.3,  1.4,  1.6;  ultimate 
segment  1.2  length  of  penultimate. 

LEGS:  Segment  proportions  not  determinable. 

'WING:  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  {Figs.  15-19):  IXth  tergite  lobe  prominent, 
asymmetrically  triangular,  apex  broadly  acute;  arms  of  ventral 
armature  widely  disjunct  anteriorly.  Margin  of  outer  dististyle 
entire,  roughly  pentagonal.  Inner  dististyle  simple,  apex  con- 
stricted, a ventromesal  lobe  present  subapically;  apicoventral  lobe 
digitate,  pronounced.  Tegmen  with  narrow  base,  apex  spatulate, 
basal  portion  broad,  articulating  laterally  with  the  disjunct  arms 
of  the  ventral  armature  of  the  IXth  tergite  lobes.  Phallosome  lack- 
ing parameres,  complex  striae  evident  in  ventral  plate;  penis 
filaments  long,  evenly  tapered,  only  slightly  widened  basad, 
extreme  basal  portions  non-alveolate  internally. 

Female  (Figs.  4,  26) 

Based  on  4 pharate  specimens  dissected  from  their  pupal  cases: 

COLORATION:  Not  determinable. 

SIZE:  Measurements  as  follows:  Wing  and  leg  dimensions  not 
determinable.  Head  width  1.19.  Clypeus  length  0.57.  Labrum 
length  1.08.  Palpal  segments  2-3:  0.27,  0.44. 

HEAD:  Palpus  very  short,  segments  1-3  distinct,  proportions 
2-3:  1.0,  1.6.  Antennal  segment  proportions:  1.2,  1.2,  LOO, 
1.2,  1.3,  1.2,  1.1,  1.1,  1.0,  1.0,  1.1,  1.0,  1.1,  1.3;  ultimate 
segment  1.2  length  of  penultimate. 

LEGS:  Segment  proportions  not  determinable. 

WING:  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  (Fig.  26):  Oviscapt  elongate,  ratio  L/W=1.8. 
Setae  of  VUIth  stemite  lobe  long,  22-31  in  number. 

Pupa  (Fig.  38) 

SIZE:  Large.  Measurements  (N=  10):  male  length  6.7,  width 
4.4;  female  length  7.2,  width  5.0. 

STRUCTURE:  Outline  elliptical,  L/W  1.4- 1.5,  compressed, 
cross  section  hemilenticular,  peripheral  margin  acute.  Cephalic 
sclerite  underfolded  only  slightly  more  than  half  the  distance  to 
level  of  tips  of  palpus  case.  Anterior  margin  of  scutellar  sclerite 
shallowly  V-shaped.  Cuticular  spines  proportionately  short,  long- 
est lateral  spines  distinctly  less  (about  0.75)  than  mid-dorsal 
length  of  scutellar  sclerite;  numerous  spines  in  mesoposterior 
region  of  scutum,  parabasal  spinelets  commonly  multiple  (2-4) 
and  of  unequal  length.  Lamellae  of  respiratory  processes  parallel, 
erect,  subequal  in  length;  outer  pair  heavier  than  inner  and  tri- 
angular, inner  pair  0.6-0. 7 width  of  outer  at  their  bases;  no.  3 
the  smallest  and  narrower  than  no.  2 and  set  mesad  of  same; 
apices  of  both  inner  lamellae  slightly  recurved  but  neither  bent 
tortuously . 

Larva  (Figs.  34-36) 

SIZE:  Large.  Measurement  (N  = 10):  body  length  6.3;  head 
capsule  width  1.69. 

CHAETOTAXY  (trunk  segments  only):  General  secondary 
dorsal  sensilla  all  small  and  coniform;  those  of  antero-  and  pos- 
terolateral linear  series  much  larger  than  general  dorsals;  cylindri- 
form  mesally,  becoming  coniform,  flattened  and  sometimes 
ridged,  laterally. 

STRUCTURES:  Pseudopods  short,  L/W  about  2.3;  arising 
from  ventrolateral  depression.  Posterolateral  lobe  of  anal  division 
well  developed,  only  slightly  smaller  than  pseudopods,  apex 
directed  posterolaterad.  Lateral  margin  of  anal  division  with  a 
conspicuous  lobe  anterior  to  posterolateral  lobe,  set  with  an  arc 
of  large,  ovate  sensilla.  Posterior  extreme  of  anal  division 


densely  pigmented  and  heavily  sclerotized  and  separated  from 
posterolateral  lobes  by  a deep  incision.  Ventral  integument  mesal 
to  base  of  pseudopod  mammillate  over  a broad  area,  mammillae 
spinose  laterad,  grading  to  papillae  mesad. 

MATERIAL  AND  TYPE  LOCALITY: 

Types.  COSTA  RICA,  Alajuela  Province.  Rio  Angel  below  El  Angel 
Falls,  13  April  1975.  C.L.  Hogue:  HOLOTYPE  8 (pharate,  dissected  from 
and  associated  with  pupal  case;  in  alcohol:  genitalia  on  slide  No.  CLH 
75-219;  head  on  slide  No.  CLH  75-233:  LACM);  ALLOTYPE  9 (as  8: 
genitalia  on  slide  No.  CLH  75-221;  head  on  slide  No.  CLH  76-158: 
LACM);  3 <3, 1 9 PARATYPES  (pharate  adults  in  alcohol,  dissected  from 
pupal  cases  with  genitalia  and  heads  on  slides:  LACM). 

Additional.  COSTA  RICA,  Alajuela  Province,  Rio  Angel  below  El  Angel 
Falls,  13  April  1975,  C.L.  Hogue  (19  <3,319  pupae  and  sexed  whole  pupal 
skins;  15  fragmentary  pupal  skins;  2 larvae:  LACM).  Puntarenas  Province, 
Las  Cruces,  (rock  quarry)  6 miles  S San  Vito  de  Jaba,  Rio  Jaba,  27  June 
1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (1  pupa.  I larva:  LACM).  1.8  mi.  W Rincon,  Linguita 
Creek,  3 July  1963,  C.L.  Hogue  (1  9 , pharate,  dissected  from  pupal  case;  1 
pupa,  3 partial  pupal  skins,  10  larvae:  LACM).  11  March  1971,  C.L.  Hogue 
and  J.P.  Donahue  (2  pupae,  2 larvae:  LACM).  San  Jose  Province,  2 miles 
W Grecia,  Rio  Trojas,  18  June  1972,  C.L.  Hogue  (1  pupa:  LACM).  12.5  miles 
N San  Isidro  del  General,  15  June  1963,  C.L.  Hogue  (7  larvae:  LACM). 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  name  was  chosen  to  commemorate  the 
name  of  one  of  Costa  Rica’s  most  famous  and  clever  caciques.  In 
1522,  Diriagen  is  reputed  to  have  nearly  defeated  a force  led  by 
Gonzalez  Davila  in  an  ambush  into  which  the  latter’s  greed  for 
Indian  treasure  led  him. 

Paltostoma  exserta  new  species 

Figures  10-11,  39,  40 

DIAGNOSIS 

This  species  is  distinct  from  all  other  known  Paltostoma  in  the 
form  of  the  pupal  lamellae.  Normally  the  four  plates  of  the  bran- 
chia  are  more  or  less  separate  from  one  another  and  about  equal 
in  length  (although  the  inner  two  may  be  narrower  than  the 
outer),  but  in  exserta  the  inner  pairs  are  appressed  by  the  outer 
and  extend  about  20%  of  their  own  length  beyond  them. 

Only  small  differences  exist  in  other  features,  notably  in  the 
male  genitalia,  between  exserta  and  the  very  similar  diriageni. 
This  applies  principally  to  the  shape  of  the  inner  dististyle  which 
is  considerably  broader  in  the  former  than  in  the  latter  species. 
This  structure  also  has  a less  pronounced  apicoventral  lobe  in 
exserta  than  in  diriageni.  A further  difference  may  be  found  in 
the  outer  dististyle  lobe  which  is  smoothly  rounded  in  shape  in 
exserta  while  it  is  asymmetrically  hexagonal  in  diriageni. 

The  larva  of  exserta  is  unknown. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

Adults 

The  great  similarity  of  this  species  to  diriageni  (see  above) 
makes  a full  description  of  the  adults  superfluous.  From  the  small 
amount  of  material  available,  which  consists  entirely  of  pharate 
individuals  dissected  from  their  pupal  cases,  nothing  can  be 
detected  to  distinguish  the  females.  The  same  is  true  of  the  males 
except  for  a few  characteristics  in  the  genitalia.  The  latter  are 
described  as  follows  from  the  single  fairly  well  sclerotized,  but 
pharate,  specimen: 

MALE  GENITALIA  (Figs.  10-11):  IXth  tergite  lobe  prom- 
inent, asymmetrically  triangular,  apex  broadly  acute;  arms  of 
ventral  armature  widely  disjunct  anteriorly.  Margin  of  outer  disti- 
style entire,  oval;  dorsal  portion  concave.  Inner  dististyle  simple, 
broad  and  angular,  a ventromesal  lobe  present  subapically; 
apicoventral  lobe  acute  and  moderately  pronounced.  Tegmen 
with  narrow  base,  apex  spatulate;  basal  portion  broad,  articulat- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


8 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


ing  laterally  with  the  disjunct  arms  of  the  ventral  armature  of  the 
IX th  tergite  lobes.  Phallosome  lacking  parameres,  complex  striae 
evident  in  ventral  plate;  penis  filaments  long,  evenly  tapered, 
only  slightly  widened  basad;  extreme  basal  portions  of  filaments 
non-alveolate  internally. 

Pupa  (Fig.  39) 

SIZE:  Large.  Measurements:  male  (N=3)  length  5.9,  width 
4.4;  female  (N  = 7)  length  7.0,  width  5.0. 

STRUCTURE:  Outline  elliptical,  L/W  1.4.  Cuticular  spines 
proportionately  short,  longest  lateral  spines  distinctly  less  (about 
0.75)  than  mid-dorsal  length  of  scutellar  sclerite;  condition  of 
parabasal  spinelets  not  determinable  due  to  abraded  condition  of 
available  material.  Branchial  lamellae  compressed,  outer  pair 
much  heavier  than  inner  and  triangular,  appressed  to  inner  pair 
which  are  sagittate  in  form  and  extend  considerably  beyond  the 
apices  of  the  outer  pair  (by  about  20%  of  their  total  length);  outer 
lamellae  covered  by  a dense,  white,  flocculent  material  of 
unknown  origin. 

Larva 

Unknown. 

MATERIAL  AND  TYPE  LOCALITY: 

Types.  COSTA  RICA,  Alajuela  Province.  Rio  Angel  below  El  Angel 
Falls,  13  April  1975,  C.L.  Hogue:  HOLOTYPE  3 (pharate,  dissected  from 
and  associated  with  pupal  case;  in  alcohol:  genitalia  on  slide  No.  CLH  77-1; 
head  on  slide  No.  CLH  77-10:  LACM);  ALLOTYPE  9 (as  3:  genitalia  on 
slide  No.  CLH  77-3:  LACM);  3 9 PARATYPES  (pharate  adults  in  alcohol, 
dissected  from  pupal  cases  with  genitalia  and  heads  on  slides:  LACM). 

Additional.  COSTA  RICA,  Alajuela  Province,  Rio  Angel  below  El  Angel 
Falls,  13  April  1975.  C.L.  Hogue  (2  3 , 8 9 pupae:  LACM). 

ETYMOLOGY:  Exserta  is  Latin,  meaning  “extended  be- 
yond” and  is  in  reference  to  the  protruding  middle  branchial 
lamellae  of  the  pupa. 

Paltostoma  zwicki  new  species 

Figures  20-24,  40 

DIAGNOSIS 

The  following  characteristics  of  the  male  genitalia  distinguish 
this  new  species  from  its  congeners:  short  penis  filaments  with 
basal  third  abruptly  widened  and  alveolate  internally.  IX th  tergite 
lobe  asymmetrically  triangular  with  an  acute  apex,  arms  of  ven- 
tral armature  contiguous  anteriorly.  Outer  dististyle  incised 
apicoventrally. 

DESCRIPTIONS 

Male  (Figs.  20-24) 

Based  on  the  holotype  and  a single  male  paratopotype: 

COLORATION:  Head.  — All  sclerites  medium-brown,  darker 
towards  vertex  and  caudad,  with  extensive  velvety  texture  and 
silvery  opalescent  reflections;  ocellar  triangle  dark-brown. 
Mouthparts  and  antenna  dull  brown,  the  latter  darker.  Thorax.  — 
Generally  medium-brown.  Scutum,  scutellum,  epistemum  and 
meron  darker  and  with  reflections  as  on  head;  remaining  sclerites 
dull  yellow-brown.  Legs.  — Generally  dull  gray-brown,  lighter 
basad,  becoming  darker  distad;  tarsi,  including  claws,  almost 
black.  Apices  of  femora  darkened.  Wing.  — Membrane  hyaline, 
veins  brownish-black.  Halt  ere.  — Stem  yellow  basad,  darkening 
distad;  knob  velvety  brown.  Abdomen.  — Basal  half  of  first 
tergite  yellow,  the  remainder  of  this  and  other  tergites  velvety- 
brown  with  silvery  reflections  caudad,  a distinct  reflective  black 
band  basally.  Sternites  light-brown,  also  reflective.  Genitalia.  — 
Dark  brown. 

SIZE:  Measurements  as  follows  (from  combined  material. 


maximum  N=2):  Body  length  not  determinable.  Wing  length 
5.0,  width  1.7.  Head  width  0.82.  Clypeus  length  0.23.  Labrum 
length  1.66.  Palpal  segments  1-3  combined  0.21,  2-3  combined 
0.15,  2 alone  0.06.  Leg  segment  lengths  as  below  (from  Pedre- 
gosa  specimen): 


fore 

mid 

hind 

femur 

3.3 

4.2 

5.0 

tibia 

3.9 

4.1 

4.8 

tarsus  1 

1.38 

1.43 

1.56 

2 

0.59 

0.68 

0.46 

3 

0.34 

0.38 

0.24 

4 

0.23 

0.24 

0.20 

5 

0.28 

0.29 

0.26 

HEAD:  Palpus  very  short,  segments  2-3 

fused,  segment  1 dis- 

tinct,  2-3  constricted  at  presumed  joint;  segment  2 short;  propor- 
tions: 1 :( 1 : 1 .4) . Antennal  segment  proportions  (from  Pedregosa 
specimen,  segments  9-14  damaged):  1.7;  1.7,  1.00,  1.3,  1.3, 
1.4,  1.3,  1.3,  1.3,  1.4,  1.1,  1.4,  1.3,  1.3,  1.9;  ultimate  segment 
1.5  length  of  penultimate. 


LEGS:  Progressive  segment  proportions  as  below: 


foreleg 

1.0 

1.2 

0.4 

0.4 

0.6 

0.7 

1.2 

midleg 

1.0 

1.0 

0.4 

0.5 

0.6 

0.6 

1.2 

hindleg 

1.0 

1.0 

0.3 

0.3 

0.5 

0.8 

1.3 

WING:  Venation  and  trichia  typical  for  genus. 

GENITALIA  (Figs.  20-24):  IXth  tergite  lobe  prominent, 
asymmetrically  triangular,  apex  broadly  acute;  arms  of  ventral 
armature  contiguous  anteriorly.  Outer  dististyle  incised  apicoven- 
trally, ventromedian  margin  not  markedly  produced.  Inner  disti- 
style slightly  expanded  apicad,  apex  abruptly  narrowed  and 
attenuate.  Tegmen  broad,  apex  rounded  with  a median,  narrow 
sclerotized  shaft;  basal  portion  narrow,  articulating  with  the  con- 
tiguous arms  of  the  ventral  armature  of  IXth  tergite  lobes.  Phal- 
losome with  slightly  sclerotized  straps  in  center  of  ventral  plate, 
suggesting  rudimentary  parameres;  penis  filaments  short,  basal 
third  abruptly  widened,  this  portion  alveolate  internally. 

Female,  pupa  and  larva 

Unknown. 

MATERIAL  AND  TYPE  LOCALITY: 

Types.  COSTA  RICA,  San  Jose  Province,  Ttirrialba,  5-15  March  1954, 
C.H.  Batchelder:  HOLOTYPE  3 (genitalia  on  slide  No.  CLH  76-161; 
USNM);  PARATYPE  3 (genitalia  on  slide  No.  CLH  76-162:  USNM). 
March  1954.  C.H.  Batchelder  (light  trap). 

Additional.  COSTA  RICA,  Province  Unknown,  Pedregosa,  no  date,  D.L. 
Rounds  (1  3:  USNM). 

ETYMOLOGY:  The  species  is  named  in  honor  of  Peter 
Zwick,  distinguished  student  of  the  family  Blephariceridae. 
REMARKS 

I have  not  been  able  to  locate  the  locality  “Pedregosa”  of 
Rounds’  collection;  it  may  be  Pedregoso,  1 km  W San  Isidro  del 
General. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I owe  gratitude  to  the  following  persons  for  making  available 
the  material  upon  which  this  report  is  based,  either  by  providing 
funds  and  special  help  in  the  field,  or  by  loaning  specimens: 
Charles  P.  Alexander,  John  E.S.  Dockweiler,  Julian  P.  Donahue, 
Alan  Landsburg,  and  Peter  Zwick. 

I would  like  to  acknowledge  also  the  invaluable  assistance  of 
Betty  Birdsall  and  Carol  Madle  with  preliminary  drawings  and  to 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


9 


thank  particularly  Joy  Roan  for  her  fine  rendering  of  figures  of 
the  larvae  (Figs.  27-36). 

RESUMEN 

Se  hace  referencia  a cinco  especies  de  mosquitos  de  alas  reticu- 
ladas  de  la  familia  Blephariceridae,  procedentes  de  Costa  Rica. 
Las  cinco  especies  pertenecen  al  genero  Paltostoma;  con  excep- 
cion  de  P.  delectaia  Alexander,  ya  descrita,  las  cuatro  restantes 
(costaricensis,  diriageni,  exserta  y zwicki)  se  describen  como 
nuevas  especies.  La  publicacion  incluye  ademas  un  diagnostico, 
acompahado  de  notas  biologicas,  referentes  al  genero. 

LITERATURE  CITED 


Hogue,  C.L.  1971.  Family  Blephariceridae,  number  8,  pages 
8.1-8.12  in  Papavero,  N.  ed.  A catalogue  of  the  Diptera  of 
the  Americas  south  of  the  United  States.  Museu  de  Zool- 
ogia,  Universidade  de  Sao  Paulo,  Sao  Paulo. 

1973.  The  net-winged  midges  or  Blephariceridae  of 

California.  California  Insect  Survey,  B.  15:1-83. 

. 1978.  The  net- winged  midges  of  eastern  North  Amer- 
ica, with  notes  on  new  taxonomic  characters  in  the  family 
Blephariceridae.  Natural  History  Museum  of  Los  Angeles 
County,  Contrib.  Sci.  291:1-41. 

Stuckenberg,  B.R.  1958.  Taxonomic  and  morphological  studies 
on  the  genus  Paulianina  Alexander  (Diptera:  Blephariceri- 
dae). Institut  Scientifique  de  Madagascar,  Memoires,  Serie 
E 10:97-198. 


Alexander,  C.P.  1953.  Undescribed  species  of  nematocerous 

Diptera.  Part  II.  Brooklyn  Entomol.  Soc.,  B.  48:21-49.  Accepted  for  publication  April  10,  1978. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


10 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


heads  in  frontal  aspect.  1,  male.  2,  female. 


Ccmtrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


Figures  3-4.  Paltostoma  diriageni,  heads  in  frontal  aspect.  3,  male.  4,  female. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


12 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


Figures  5-9.  Paltostoma  costaricensis,  male  genitalia.  5,  basistyle,  dististyle  and  associated  structures,  dorsal  aspect.  6,  tegmen  and  ventral  bridge.  7, 
right  dististyle,  inner  aspect.  8,  IXth  tergite  lobes  and  ventral  armature.  9,  phallosome  and  ventral  plate. 


Conrrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


13 


Figures  10-14.  Paltostoma,  male  genitalia  and  wing.  10—11,  P.  exserta.  10,  right  dististyle,  inner  aspect.  11,  phallosome  and  ventral  plate.  12-14,  P . 
delectata.  12,  right  dististyle,  inner  aspect.  13,  IXth  tergite  lobes  and  ventral  armature.  14,  wing. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


14 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


18 


05 


Figures  15-  19.  Paltosroma  diriageni,  male  genitalia.  15,  basistyle,  dististyle  and  associated  structures,  dorsal  aspect.  16,  tegmen  and  ventral  bridge.  17, 
right  dististyle,  inner  aspect.  18,  IXth  tergite  lobes  and  ventral  armature.  19,  phallosome  and  ventral  plate. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Nalur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


15 


Figures  20-24.  Paltostoma  zwicki,  male  genitalia.  20,  basistyle,  dististy le  and  associated  structures,  dorsal  aspect.  21,  tegmen  and  ventral  bridge.  22, 
right  dististyle,  inner  aspect.  23,  IXth  tergite  lobes  and  ventral  armature.  24,  phallosome  and  ventral  plate. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  Count}’.  1979.  311:1-22. 


16 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


Figures  25-26.  Paltostoma,  female  genitalia,  ventral  aspect.  25,  P.  costaricensis.  26,  P diriageni. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


17 


Figures  27-29.  Paltostoma  costaricensis,  larva.  27,  anal  division,  outline.  28,  trunk  division  II,  dorsal  aspect.  29,  same,  ventral  aspect. 


Contrib.  Set.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


18 


Figure  30.  Paltostoma  delectata,  larva,  dorsal  aspect,  left;  ventral  aspect,  right. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


19 


Figures  31-33.  Paltostoma  delectata,  larva.  31,  anal  division,  outline.  32,  trunk  division  II,  dorsal  aspect.  33,  same,  ventral  aspect. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


20 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


Figures  34-36.  Paltostoma  diriageni,  larva.  34,  anal  division,  outline.  35,  trunk  division  0,  dorsal  aspect.  36,  same,  ventral  aspect. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


21 


20 


Figures  37-39.  Paltostoma,  pupae,  anterior  aspect.  37,  P costaricensis.  38,  P.  diriageni.  39,  P.  exserta. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


22 


Hogue:  Costa  Rican  Blephariceridae 


Figure  40.  Map  of  Costa  Rica  with  collection  localities  of  Paltostoma  shown  by  symbols.  Heavy  lines  outline  major  drainage  systems,  heaviest  indicating 
continental  divide. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  311:1-22. 


II 


PROMYLAGAULUS,  PROGRESSIVE  A PLODONTOI D RODENTS 

OF  THE  EARLY  MIOCENE 


lil 


By  John  M.  Rensberger 


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3""'  'I pilli  111  ill'illiiliii  tti 

Published  by  the  NATURAL.  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  - 300  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  * LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  $000? 


Prior  to  November  30,  1 973,  publications  of  the  Natural  History  Museum  have  appeared  under  various  titles  — Leaflet 
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Exposition  Boulevard,  Los  Angeles,  California  90007. 


Edward  Ostermeyer 
Editor 


Number  312 
March  16,  1979 


CONTRIBUTIONS  IN  SCIENCE 


NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY 


PROMYLAGAULUS,  PROGRESSIVE  APLODONTOID  RODENTS 

OF  THE  EARLY  MIOCENE 


By  John  M.  Rensberger 


Published  by  the  NATURAL  HISTORY  MUSEUM  OF  LOS  ANGELES  COUNTY  • 900  EXPOSITION  BOULEVARD  • LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90007 


s 


J 


CONTENTS 


Abstract  3 

Abbreviations  of  Institutions  3 

Dental  Nomenclature  3 

Methods  4 

Morphologic  Relationships  4 

Systematic  Paleontology:  Order  RODENTIA, 

Superfamily  Aplodontoidea  Matthew  1910,  Family  Mylagaulidae  Cope  1881 

Promylagaulus  McGrew  1941  13 

Promylagaulus  riggsi  McGrew  1941  14 

Promylagaulus  lemhiensis  Nichols  1976  14 

Promylagaulus  ovatus  new  species  15 

Promylagaulus  montanensis  new  species  15 

Promylagaulus  sp 16 

Phyletic  Relationships  of  the  Species  16 

Acknowledgments  17 

Literature  Cited  17 


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ISSN:  0459-8113 

Suggested  Citation:  Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 

Contributions  in  Science  are  articles  in  the  earth  and  life  sciences,  presenting  results  of  original  research  in  Natural 
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3 


PROMYLAGAULUS,  PROGRESSIVE  APLODONTOID  RODENTS 

OF  THE  EARLY  MIOCENE1 

By  John  M.  Rensberger2 


ABSTRACT:  Promylagaulus,  until  recently  represented  by  only  a single  described  species  of  uncertain  age,  P . 
riggsi,  is  a diverse  and  rather  widely  distributed  genus,  most  members  of  which  seem  to  occur  in  a restricted 
interval  of  the  early  Miocene.  Of  the  two  new  species  described  here,  P.  ovatus  is  from  an  upper  part  of  the 
Monroe  Creek  Formation  in  South  Dakota,  and  P . montanensis  occurs  in  a restricted  interval  in  the  Deep  River 
Formation  of  Montana.  A form  from  northern  Wyoming,  when  better  known,  may  represent  another  species. 
Each  of  these  three  occurrences  is  within  the  Entoptychus-Gregormymys  Concurrent-range  Zone  of  Fisher  and 
Rensberger  (1972).  P.  lemhiensis,  from  northern  Idaho,  is  apparently  from  an  only  slightly  older  interval. 

These  species  differ  in  hypsodonty,  size  and  lophodonty.  No  trend  toward  characteristics  definitive  of  the 
Mylagaulidae  is  evident  among  these  species  and  a number  of  features  indicate  that  Promylagaulus  was  not 
ancestral  to  the  later  mylagaulids.  Although  similar  in  a number  of  characteristics  to  an  earlier  and  more 
primitive  aplodontoid,  Meniscomys.  Promylagaulus  frequently  retained  at  least  one  primitive  feature  that  was 
absent  in  the  earliest  known  members  of  Meniscomys. 


A few  years  ago,  a biostratigraphic  study  of  the  Deep  River 
and  Fort  Logan  formations  of  Montana  was  undertaken  in  order 
to  more  clearly  correlate  Oligo-Miocene  sequences  of  vertebrates 
of  the  far  west  with  faunas  within  and  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain region.  One  of  the  taxa  recovered  in  the  course  of  this  study 
is  an  aplodontoid  rodent  resembling  specimens  referred  to  Promy- 
lagaulus riggsi  McGrew,  described  from  the  Monroe  Creek 
Formation  of  South  Dakota  by  J.R.  Macdonald  (1963,  1970)  and 
L.  Macdonald  (1972),  and  P.  lemhiensis  Nichols  (1976)  from  the 
early  Miocene  of  Idaho. 

The  problem  of  assessing  the  relationships  of  small  samples  of 
Promylagaulus  is  difficult  because  the  cheek  teeth  in  this  genus 
are  high  crowned  and  complex,  with  numerous  enamel  bordered 
lakes  of  different  depths  and  which  vary  in  size  and  shape  with 
wear.  The  dentition  in  the  type  specimen  of  P.  riggsi  (McGrew 
1941)  has  few  characteristic  features  that  are  not  made  ambigu- 
ous by  the  advanced  stage  of  wear.  The  more  recently  described 
specimens  of  Promylagaulus  were  reported  upon  in  papers 
devoted  to  entire  faunas  and  the  comparative  morphologies  have 
not  as  yet  been  presented  in  detail.  This  paper  compares  the  new 
material  of  Promylagaulus  from  the  Deep  River  Formation  with 
that  from  South  Dakota  and  Idaho,  and  presents  additional  evi- 
dence concerning  the  relationship  of  these  forms. 

Abbreviations  of  Institutions 

AMNH  American  Museum  of  Natural  History 
FMNH  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History 
ISU  The  Museum,  Idaho  State  University 
LACM  Los  Angeles  County  Museum  of  Natural  History 
SDSM  South  Dakota  School  of  Mines  and  Technology 
UM  Department  of  Geology,  University  of  Montana 
UWBM  University  of  Washington,  Burke  Memorial  Washing- 
ton State  Museum 


Dental  Nomenclature 

The  principal  cusps  of  the  cheek  teeth  in  Promylagaulus  (Fig. 
1)  correspond  to  those  of  Haplomys  (Rensberger  1975:  Fig.  1). 
Whereas  the  major  cusps  are  homologous  to  those  of  other  groups 
of  rodents,  the  enamel  inflections,  fossettes  and  fossettids  are 
frequently  not  homologous.  Different  authors  have  applied  the 
terminology  used  by  Stirton  (1935)  for  the  castorids  to  the  myla- 
gaulids, but  in  conflicting  ways.  Because  of  fundamental  differ- 
ences in  the  origins  of  the  inflections  and  lakes  in  the  castorids 
and  aplodontoids,  there  is  no  obvious  and  natural  way  to  transfer 
a number  of  the  names  from  the  former  to  the  latter.  Rather  than 
introduce  new  terms  for  these  structures  in  the  aplodontoids  at 
this  time,  and  to  avoid  confusion  with  the  several  usages  of  the 
castorid  nomenclature,  I have  simply  used  descriptive  terms 
based  upon  the  position  of  the  structure  with  reference  to  the 
center  of  the  tooth  (Fig.  1).  Thus  the  structures  in  any  of  the  four 
quadrants  are  prefixed  by  anterolingual,  posterolingual,  etc.,  and 
those  falling  in  the  midsection  of  a side  by  labial,  lingual,  ante- 
rior or  posterior.  An  advantage  of  this  method  is  that  when 
applied  to  fossettes  and  fossettids,  it  lends  itself  to  situations  in 
which  a structure  originates  in  different  ways.  For  example,  with- 
in a single  species  of  Promylagaulus  there  may  be  both  antero- 
lingual and  posterolingual  fossettids  on  P4,  or  there  may  be  only 
a lingual  fossettid  in  those  positions,  depending  upon  whether  or 
not  the  mesostylid  is  joined  to  the  mesoconid  by  a crest.  This 


'Review  Committee  for  this  Contribution: 

Craig  Black 
Mary  Dawson 
David  Whistler 

2Burke  Memorial  Washington  State  Museum  and  Department 
of  Geological  Sciences,  University  of  Washington,  Seattle  98195. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-16. 


4 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


PAS  PA  MSS  ME 


Figure  1.  Nomenclature  of  occlusal  structures  in  Promylagaulus.  u-left  P4;  b- left  M1  or  M2;  c — little  worn  right  P4;  d-well  worn  right  P4;  e-right  DP4; 
/-right  Mi  or  M;.  Cross  hatching  = dentine;  labial  side  toward  top,  anterior  toward  left.  ABF  = anterolabial  fossette  (-id);  ABI  = anterolabial  inflection; 
AC  = anterocone;  AF  = anterior  fossettid;  AI  = anterior  inflection;  ALF  = anterolingual  fossette  (-id);  ALI  = anterolingual  inflection;  BI  = labial 
inflection;  CF  = central  fossette  (-id);  END  = entoconid;  HLD  = hypolophid;  HYLD  = hypoconulid;  HYD  = hypoconid;  LF  = lingual  fossettid;  LI  = 
lingual  inflection;  MCD  = mesoconid;  ME  = metacone;  MED  = metaconid;  MEL  = metaconule;  ML  = metaloph;  MLDII  = metalophulid  II;  MSD  = 
mesostylid;  MS  DC  = mesostylid  crest;  MSS  = mesostyle;  MTDC  = metastylid  crest;  PA  = paracone;  PAS  = parastyle;  PBF  = posterolabial  fossette; 
PBI  = posterolabial  inflection;  PF  = posterior  fossettid;  PL  = protoloph;  PLD  = posterolophid;  PLF  = posterolingual  fossette;  PLI  = posterolingual 
inflection;  PR  = protocone;  PRD  = protoconid;  PRL  = protoconule  (paraconule) . 


method  somewhat  simplifies  the  terminology  in  a group  in  which 
the  occlusal  structure  can  be  very  complex. 

METHODS 

The  most  objective  information  bearing  on  the  relationship  of 
the  fossil  jaws,  teeth  and  skull  representing  Promylagaulus  is  the 
stratigraphic- geographic  occurrence  of  the  elements.  Specimens 
from  a single  geographic  and  stratigraphic  position  and  among 
which  there  is  no  evidence  of  a significant  discontinuity  in  mor- 
phology were  probably  members  of  a single  population  or  very 
closely  related  ones.  This  information,  together  with  the  complex 
combinations  of  morphologic  similarities  and  dissimilarities  pre- 
sented in  the  following  sections  show  that  at  least  four  distinct 
taxonomic  groups  are  represented. 

The  distinct  geographic-stratigraphic  associations  are: 

Deep  River  Fm.,  central  Montana,  (P . montanensis) 

Lemhi  Valley,  western  Montana,  (P.  lemhiensis) 

Anthills  locality,  uppermost  Monroe  Creek  Fm.,  S.  Dakota, 
(P . ovatus) 

Specimen  SDSM  6277 , Monroe  Creek  Fm.,  S.  Dakota,  (P. 
ovatus ) 

P.  riggsi,  unknown  locality,  S.  Dakota 
Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


MORPHOLOGIC  RELATIONSHIPS 

The  material  from  the  Deep  River  Formation  consists  of  two 
right  mandibles:  UWBM  38075,  with  P4-M3;  and  UWBM 
38103,  with  a lower  incisor  fragment  and  DP4-M2.  The  speci- 
mens are  from  approximately  the  same  stratigraphic  position  in  a 
5 to  7 m thick  massive  sandstone  at  a single  exposure.  Although 
the  relatively  little  worn  and  moderately  worn  occlusal  patterns  of 
the  molars  in  the  two  specimens  differ  greatly,  analogous  differ- 
ences are  also  present  among  the  isolated  teeth  reported  from  an 
anthill  locality  in  the  Monroe  Creek  Formation  of  South  Dakota 
and  referred  to  Promylagaulus  riggsi  by  L.  Macdonald  (1972). 
The  specimens  from  the  Deep  River  Formation  probably  repre- 
sent a single  population,  or  at  least  closely  related  ones. 

Lower  Incisor 

The  enamel  face  of  the  incisor  in  the  Deep  River  taxon  is 
broad  and  only  slightly  convex  transversely.  It  closely  resembles 
that  of  Meniscomys  hippodus  Cope,  of  the  John  Day  Formation, 
except  that  the  width  is  somewhat  greater,  consistent  with  the 
overall  larger  size  of  the  mandible.  The  incisor  is  wider  and 
slightly  flatter  than  that  of  SDSM  6277,  cf.  Promylagaulus  riggsi 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


5 


(Macdonald  1970:33)  from  South  Dakota,  a specimen  of  smaller 
overall  size. 

Deciduous  Lower  Premolar 

The  DP 4 of  the  Deep  River  form  (UWBM  38103)  is  well  worn 
but  still  retains  several  fossettids  (Fig.  2a).  A central  anterior 
fossettid  is  triangular  with  one  angle  in  a posterior  position  and 
the  remaining  angles  in  anterolabial  and  anterolingual  positions. 
The  anterolingual  corner  of  the  fossettid  is  not  quite  closed  at  the 
existing  stage  of  wear.  The  anterior  fossettid  in  SDSM  6277  also 
opens  anterolingually,  although  the  fossettid  is  more  worn  and 
less  triangular  than  in  the  specimen  from  Montana.  In  a specimen 
of  Meniscomys  hippodus  (UWBM  29160),  the  anterior  fossettid 
is  oval,  narrower  transversely  than  that  in  SDSM  6277  or  the 
Deep  River  form,  and  opens  directly  craniad.  Three  unworn  to 
lightly  worn  deciduous  lower  premolars,  117384,  117436  from 
the  anthill  locality  (LACM  1871  = SDSM  6229)  were  not 
described  by  L.  Macdonald  (1972),  although  they  are  question- 
ably assigned  on  the  specimen  record  to  Promylagaulus  riggsi. 
Although  pronounced  morphologic  differences  exist  among  these 
specimens,  they  probably  belong  to  the  taxon  represented  at  that 
locality  by  permanent  teeth,  as  will  be  shown  below.  The  anterior 
fossettid  or  inflection  in  the  specimens  of  DPa  from  the  anthill 
collections  (Fig.  3b)  is  triangular,  as  in  the  Deep  River  form. 


b 


Figure  2.  Promylagaulus  montanensis.  a-occlusal  view  right  DP4-M2, 
UWBM  38103;  £>-occlusal  view  right  P4-M3,  UWBM  38075.  Both 
specimens  from  level  1 of  locality  Spring  Creek  1 (UWBM  A5867), 
Deep  River  Formation,  Montana.  Labial  side  toward  top  of  figure.  Scale 
= 1 mm.  Drawing  by  Mark  Orsen. 


Figure  3.  Promylagaulus  ovatus,  lower  cheek  teeth,  a-occlusal  view  little  worn  right  P4,  LACM  117372;  £>-occlusal  view  left  DP4,  LACM  117436; 
c-occlusal  view. worn  left  P4,  LACM  117368;  <7-occlusal  view  worn  right  P4,  LACM  117370;  e-occlusal  view  left  Mi,  LACM  1 17435;  /-same, 
posterior  view.  All  except/ stereo  pairs.  Labial  side  toward  top  of  figure.  Scale  = 1 mm. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


6 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


TABLE  1 

Length,  Width  of  P-i;  Depth  of  Labial  Enamel  on  P4  (mm) 


DLEP 


MUSEUM  NUMBER 

LOCALITY 

LP 

WTR 

WTA 

DLEP 

LP 

UWBM  38075 

Deep  River  Fm  (UWA  5867) 

4.1 

2.2 

2.7 

2.8 

0.68 

ISU  18594 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  59003) 

4.7 

1.9 

2.7 

2.0 

0.43 

ISU  18601 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  59003) 

5.0 

2.2 

3.0 

2.2 

0.44 

AMNH  56333 

Darton's  Bluff* 

3.6 

1.8 

2.2 

— 

— 

LACM  9340 

Wolff  Ranch  (LACM  20051) 

3.8 

2.0 

2.4 

— 

— 

LACM  9342 

Wolff  Ranch  (LACM  20051) 

3.5 

1.8 

2.2 

1.9 

0.54 

LACM  23530 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.4 

1.5 

1.9 

— 

— 

LACM  1 17367 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.7 

1.9 

2.0 

1.8 

0.49 

LACM  23532 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

1.7 

1.9 

1.8 

0.51 

LACM  117437 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

1.6 

2.2 

1.8 

0.51 

LP 

WTR 

WTA 

DLEP 


anteroposterior  length  near  base  of  crown, 

transverse  width  of  trigonid  measured  perpendicular  to  vertical  axis  of  tooth, 
transverse  width  of  talonid,  measured  perpendicular  to  vertical  axis  of  tooth, 
depth  of  labial  enamel  measured  ventrad  from  apex  of  posterior  dentinal  tract 
measurements  taken  from  published  illustration  (McKenna  and  Love  1972). 


although  the  sequence  of  closure  of  the  two  anterior  comers  is 
variable. 

An  arcuate  anterolabial  inflection  in  UWBM  38103  lies  in  a 
transverse  orientation  near  the  anteroposterior  center  of  DP4  and 
anterior  to  the  mesoconid.  Opposite  the  inflection  and  near  the 
lingual  margin  of  the  tooth  is  an  anteroposteriorly  aligned  fosset- 
tid  that  is  represented  in  Meniscomys  hippodus  by  a shallow  val- 
ley which  doesn't  form  a fossettid.  In  both  UWBM  38103  and 
M.  hippodus  the  fossettid  or  valley  is  bounded  lingually  by  an 
elongate  metastylid  crest  at  the  margin  of  the  tooth.  Both  the 
arcuate  anterolabial  fossettid  and  the  elongate  anterolingual  fos- 
settid are  present  in  the  teeth  of  the  anthill  locality  (Fig.  3b). 
However,  in  one  specimen  of  the  latter  the  mesoconid  lacks  the 
labial  spur  that  isolates  the  anterolabial  fossettid  in  the  other 
specimens. 

The  base  of  the  posterolingual  inflection  is  barely  preserved  in 
the  specimen  from  the  Deep  River  Formation.  It  lies  near  the 


1.5  2.0  2.5  3.0 

DLEP 


ANTHILL 
WOLFF  RH. 
DEEP  R. 
LEMHI 


Figure  4.  Bivariate  plot  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  below  highest  point  of 
posterior  dentinal  tract  (DLEP)  and  anteroposterior  length  (LP)  of  P4  in 
specimens  of  Promylagaulus  from  Anthill  (LACM  1871),  Wolff  Ranch 
(LACM  2005),  Deep  River  (Spring  Creek  1,  level  1;  UWBM  A5867)  and 
Lemhi  Valley  (UM  V-7303  = ISU  59003)  localities. 


lingual  margin  of  the  tooth  between  the  areas  of  the  entoconid 
and  the  mesostylid.  The  margin  of  the  tooth  is  extended  as  a small, 
lingual  protuberance  slightly  anterior  to  the  opening  of  the  inflec- 
tion. These  structures  are  similar  to  conditions  present  in  the 
specimens  of  both  Meniscomys  hippodus  and  the  anthill  collec- 
tion. The  teeth  in  the  anthill  collection  still  retain  the  posterolin- 
gual fossettid,  which  is  more  posteriorly  situated  with  respect  to 
the  posterolabial  fossettid  than  is  that  in  M.  hippodus.  The  hypo- 
conid  of  the  specimens  in  the  anthill  collection  is  more  anteriorly 
situated  and  less  expansive  posterolabially  than  in  M.  hippodus 
(Fig.  3b).  It  is  this  feature  which  relates  the  deciduous  premolars 
most  clearly  to  the  molars  in  the  anthill  collection. 

Lower  Premolar 

The  worn  permanent  premolar  from  the  Deep  River  Formation 
is  larger  than  those  from  the  anthill  collection,  but  its  size,  espe- 
cially length,  is  exceeded  by  those  from  Lemhi  Valley  (Table  1). 
The  anterior  fossettid  in  the  worn  P4  of  UWBM  38075  from  the 
Deep  River  Formation  (Fig.  2b)  is  anteroposteriorly  elongate  and 
narrow,  but  slightly  expanded  anteriorly.  In  the  Lemhi  collection 
the  fossettid  is  also  elongate,  but  in  SDSM  6277  and  the  numer- 
ous isolated  teeth  of  the  anthill  collection  (Fig.  3c, d)  the  fosset- 
tid is  wider  and  shorter  than  that  in  the  Deep  River  form. 

The  labial  inflection  in  UWBM  38075  is  directed  posterolin- 
guad,  toward  the  center  of  the  tooth  (Fig.  2b).  It  ends  internally 
at  the  flat  surface  of  the  mesoconid  and  lacks  an  anterior  branch, 
but  a narrow  posterior  portion  representing  the  inflection  poste- 
rior to  the  mesoconid  in  Haplomys  (Rensberger  1975:6),  the  pos- 
terolabial inflection,  extends  to  within  0.1  mm  of  the  posterior 
fossettid.  The  hypoconid  is  posterolabially  compressed  and  ante- 
riorly expanded  so  as  to  contribute  to  the  posterolingual  trend  of 
the  labial  inflection.  In  the  Lemhi  collection,  SDSM  6277  and 
the  unworn  and  little  worn  teeth  in  the  anthill  collection  (Fig. 
3a- d),  the  hypocone  is  similarly  compressed  and  anteriorly 
expanded,  the  labial  inflection  abuts  a normally  flat  mesoconid 
with  little  if  any  tendency  to  extend  anteriad,  and  a narrow 
branch  of  the  labial  inflection  extends  behind  the  mesoconid 
toward  the  posterior  fossettid,  as  in  the  Deep  River  form.  There 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


7 


TABLE  2 

Ratios  of  Size  of  Posterior  and  Lingual  Fossettids  to  Width  of  P4 


WPF4  WLIF4  WC 


MUSEUM  NUMBER 

LOCALITY 

WP 

WPF4 

WP 

WL1F4 

WP 

WC 

WP 

ISU  18601 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  59003) 

2.7 

1.1 

0.41 

0.8 

0.30 

1.8 

0.67 

LACM  1 17370 

Anthill  collection 
(LACM  1871) 

2.2 

0.7 

0.32 

0.6 

0.27 

1.5 

0.68 

LACM  117352 

Anthill  collection 
(LACM  1871) 

2.2 

0.8 

0.36 

0.6 

0.27 

1.4 

0.64 

LACM  117366 

Anthill  collection 
(LACM  1871) 

2.2 

0.7 

0.32 

0.6 

0.27 

1.3 

0.59 

UWBM  38075 

Deep  River  Fm  (UWA  5867) 

2.7 

0.8 

0.30 

0.6 

0.22 

1.5 

0.55 

WP 

WPF4 

WLIF4 

WC 


transverse  width  of  P4  across  talonid. 

transverse  width  of  posterior  fossettid  on  P4,  measured  from  outer  margin  of  enamel, 
transverse  width  of  lingual  fossettid  on  P4,  measured  from  outer  margin  of  enamel, 
transverse  width  of  P4  in  center,  from  posterior  end  of  posterolabial  inflection. 


is  usually  no  mesoconid  process  on  the  hypoconid  of  P.  lemhi- 
ensis  or  most  of  the  specimens  from  the  Monroe  Creek  Forma- 
tion; however  in  several  specimens  from  the  anthill  site  a crest 
from  the  mesoconid  joins  the  latter  to  the  anterior  process  of  the 
hypoconid  to  form  a small  posterolabial  fossettid. 

In  Meniscomys  hippodus,  in  contrast  to  many  of  the  specimens 
from  Montana,  Idaho  and  South  Dakota,  the  labial  process  of  the 
mesoconid  is  persistent  and  joins  at  depth  with  a process  from  the 
hypoconid  to  enclose  the  posterolabial  inflection  as  a fossettid. 
This  tendency  is  present  in  the  stratigraphically  lowest  of  the 
known  specimens  of  Meniscomys.  As  a consequence  of  this  con- 
dition, the  labial  inflection  in  worn  teeth  of  M.  hippodus  is  con- 
fined to  a transversely  aligned  slot  that  internally  represents  only 
the  anterolabial  inflection. 

The  posterior  fossettid  is  still  present  in  the  moderately 
advanced  stage  of  wear  of  UWBM  38075  (Fig.  2b).  The  lake  is 
oval,  with  the  long  axis  trending  anterolabiad.  The  posterior  fos- 
settid in  the  teeth  in  the  anthill  collection  is  larger,  relative  to  the 
width  of  the  tooth  (Table  2),  than  in  the  Deep  River  form  (Fig. 
3d).  The  fossettid  is  largest  relative  to  tooth  width  in  the  Lemhi 
collection.  In  SDSM  6277  and  P.  lemhiensis,  the  fossettid  is 
bounded  in  an  early  stage  of  wear  by  a distinct  cusp  joining  the 
entoconid  and  mesoconid  and  forming  the  hypolophid,  but  in  the 
anthill  collection  this  cusp  is  much  reduced. 

A posteriorly  elongate  but  slightly  triangular  lingual  fossettid  is 
present  in  the  P4  of  the  UWBM  38075.  This  fossettid  is  trans- 
versely wider  relative  to  tooth  width  and  more  oval  in  the  Lemhi 
and  anthill  collections  (Table  2).  The  lake  is  bounded  lingually 
by  the  surface  of  the  metastylid  crest,  anterolabially  by  the  sur- 
face of  the  mesoconid  and  posterolabially  by  the  hypolophid 
(Fig.  2b).  In  all  forms  the  posterolingual  inflection  extends  as  a 
shallow  groove  well  below  the  stage  of  wear  at  which  the  fosset- 
tid closes.  A considerable  amount  of  variation  in  the  structures 
bounding  the  fossettid  is  present  among  the  little  worn  anthill 
specimens  and  SDSM  6277.  Usually  a strong  metastylid  crest 
(Fig.  3a)  extends  caudad  to  join  either  the  hypolophid  or  a meso- 
stylid  cusp  (or  crest).  There  may  be  no  mesostylid.  When  a 
mesostylid  is  present,  it  may  be  joined  to  both  the  metastylid 
crest  and  the  mesoconid,  so  that  the  fossettid  is  restricted  to  an 
anterolingual  position,  at  least  in  the  upper  part  of  the  crown.  In 
individuals  in  which  the  metastylid  crest  is  undeveloped  (Fig. 
3c),  the  mesostylid  tends  to  be  flanked  by  anterolingual  and  pos- 


terolingual inflections  which  may  not  form  fossettids  at  all,  or 
only  a small  one.  Specimens  in  the  anthill  collection  in  which  the 
metastylid  crest  dominates  and  connects  to  the  hypolophid  (Fig.  3a, 
d)  resemble  those  of  the  Lemhi  collection  and  probably  exhibit  the 
structure  that  would  be  shown  by  UWBM  38075  in  an  earlier  stage  of 
wear. 

In  the  primitive  species  of  Meniscomys  from  the  John  Day 
Formation  (Rensberger,  in  manuscript)  individuals  both  with  and 
without  a metastylid  crest  are  present.  Those  with  the  metastylid 
crest  may  lack  a mesostylid,  or  if  the  latter  is  present,  have  an 
incipient  lingual  fossettid  communicating  (in  the  absence  of  a 
union  between  mesostylid  and  mesoconid)  with  the  posterolin- 
gual fossettid.  Individuals  of  later  populations  in  the  John  Day 
Formation  consistently  have  a mesostylid  bounded  by  anterolin- 
gual and  posterolingual  inflections  which  do  not  close  with  wear 
to  form  fossettids. 

The  hypsodonty  of  the  premolar  in  the  Deep  River  form,  as 
indicated  by  the  depth  of  the  labial  enamel  plate  beneath  the  top 
of  the  posterior  dentinal  tract,  exceeds  that  in  the  other  collec- 
tions (Fig.  4 and  Table  1).  Although  the  absolute  length  of  the 
plate  in  the  Lemhi  collection  slightly  exceeds  measurements  in 
the  anthill  collection,  the  Lemhi  specimens  are  the  more  brachy- 
odont,  as  is  shown  by  Figure  4 and  the  ratio  of  enamel  length  to 
tooth  length  (DLEP/LP  in  Table  1). 

A locality  (LACM  2005)  northeast  of  Wolff  Ranch  in  the 
Wounded  Knee  region  of  South  Dakota  yielded  three  lower  cheek 
teeth,  two  of  which  are  premolars  which  are  not  distinguishable 
in  occlusal  pattern  or  hypsodonty  (Table  1 ) from  the  teeth  in  the 
anthill  collection.  The  museum  records  indicate  the  specimens 
were  derived  from  the  Sharps  Formation,  but  the  color  of  the 
enamel  is  dark  brown,  like  that  of  most  of  the  teeth  from  the 
anthill  collection  in  the  Monroe  Creek  Formation. 

A pair  of  mandibular  rami  with  heavily  worn  teeth  having  a 
pattern  similar  to  that  of  UWBM  38075  were  found  at  Darton’s 
Bluff,  Big  Horn  Mountains,  northern  central  Wyoming  (McKen- 
na and  Love  1972:23).  The  wear  is  such  that  only  two  enamel 
lakes,  the  anterior  and  lingual  fossettids,  remain  on  the  P4 
(McKenna  and  Love  1972:  Figs.  15,  16),  which  makes  difficult 
determination  of  the  relationships  of  the  form.  The  anteroposte- 
rior and  transverse  dimensions  are  smaller  than  those  of  UWBM 
38075  and  the  Lemhi  specimens  but  compare  favorably  with 
those  from  the  anthill  collection  (Table  1). 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


8 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


TABLE  3 

Length  and  Width  of  Mi,  M2,  M3  (mm) 


MUSEUM 


NUMBER 

LOCALITY 

uLl 

uL2 

uL3 

uWl 

uW2 

uW3 

wLl 

wL2 

wL3 

ISU  18594 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  59003) 

2.8 

2.6 

2.0 

2.1 

2.1 

1.6 

UM  5193 

Lemhi  Valley  (UMV  7303) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.4 

1.9 

UWBM  38103 

Deep  River  Fm.  (UWA  5867) 

2.7 

2.3 

— 

2.0 

2.0 

— 

— 

— 

— 

UWBM  38075 

Deep  River  Fm.  (UWA  5867) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1.9 

2.2 

1.8 

AMNH  56333 

Darton’s  Bluff  (AMNH) 
left  teetht 

2.0 

2.3 

1.7 

SDSM  6277 

Monroe  Creek  Fm. 
(SDSM  V-6210) 

2.4 

2.2 

1.8 

1.7 

LACM  23534 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

2.8* 

— 

— 

2.1 

— 

— 

2.3 

— 

— 

LACM  117441 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

2.4 

— 

— 

1.9 

— 

— 

1.7 

— 

— 

LACM  117435 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.2 

— 

1.8 

1.7 

— 

— 

— 

— 

LACM  117374 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.4 

— 

— 

2.1 

— 

— 

2.3 

— 

LACM  117373 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.2 

— 

— 

1.9 

— 

— 

2.2 

— 

LACM  117415 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

1.8 

LACM  117404 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

1.7 

LACM  117406 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

1 6 

UCMP  75554 

Meniscomys  hippodus 
(UCMP  V-6351) 

2.0 

2.0 

1.9 

1.8 

1.8 

1.5 

UCMP  105101 

Meniscomys  hippodus 
(UCMP  V-66104) 

1.7 

2.0 

2.1 

UCMP  105104 

Meniscomys  hippodus 
(UCMP  V-66104) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1.8 

2.1 

2.1 

u = unworn  or  only  moderately  worn  occlusal  dimension, 
w = well  worn  or  dimension  taken  near  base  of  crown. 

L = anteroposterior  length. 

W = transverse  width. 

1,  2,  3,  = Mi,  M2,  Ms. 

* by  far  the  largest  molar  in  the  anthill  collection, 
t measurements  taken  from  published  illustration. 


Lower  First  and  Second  Molars 

The  lower  molars  of  the  Deep  River  form  are  larger  than  those 
of  the  anthill  collection  but  slightly  smaller  than  those  of  the 
Lemhi  collection  (Table  3).  In  Mu2  of  UWBM  38103  (Fig.  2a), 
an  anterior  fossettid  is  bounded  posterolingually  by  the  meta- 
lophulid  II,  which  extends  to  the  apex  of  the  metaconid.  The 
anterior  fossettid  in  SDSM  6277  and  the  anthill  and  Lemhi  col- 
lections is  similarly  formed. 

In  Meniscomys  from  the  John  Day  Formation,  only  the  labial 
arm  of  the  metalophulid  II  is  present.  A slight  expansion  in  the 
metalophulid  II  is  present  at  the  center  of  the  tooth  in  the  primi- 
tive species  but  no  crest  extends  to  the  metaconid.  In  some  indi- 
viduals the  expansion  is  stronger  and  restricts  the  anterior  fosset- 
tid, but  in  others  the  fossettid  is  unrestricted.  Occasionally  the 
metaconid  in  M.  hippodus  is  expanded  and  contacts  the  meta- 
lophulid II  to  create  a small  anterior  fossettid  in  late  stages  of 
wear.  In  M.  hippodus,  the  metalophulid  II  is  continuous  with  a 
crest  from  the  mesostylid;  in  UWBM  38103,  the  Lemhi  collec- 
tion, the  anthill  collection  and  SDSM  6277  the  mesostylid  crest 
appears  to  be  an  accessory  to  the  metalophulid  II,  for  it  joins  the 
latter  at  an  angle. 

The  metastylid  crest  is  stoutly  developed  in  the  Deep  River 
form  (Fig.  2a).  It  is  slightly  expanded  opposite  the  middle  of  the 
tooth,  in  the  position  occupied  by  the  mesostylid  in  primitive 
aplodontoids.  In  Mi  the  crest  extends  0.4  mm  posterior  to  a 


transverse  line  through  the  center  of  the  mesostylid  expansion, 
thereby  partially  closing  the  lingual  inflection.  The  metastylid 
crest  of  SDSM  6277  and  the  anthill  collection  (Fig.  3e)  is  similar 
but  more  lightly  developed  and  seldom  extends  beyond  the  meso- 
stylid. Though  worn,  the  crest  in  ISU  18594  appears  to  have 
been  less  prominent  than  that  in  the  Deep  River  form.  The  meta- 
stylid crest  is  absent  in  Meniscomys  hippodus.  However,  in  more 
primitive  individuals  of  Meniscomys  from  the  John  Day  Forma- 
tion, the  metastylid  crest  may  be  present  as  a very  rudimentary 
structure. 

An  anterolingual  fossettid  is  present  in  the  Deep  River  form, 
the  Lemhi  collection  and  SDSM  6277,  and  is  variably  present  in 
the  anthill  collection.  It  is  bounded  by  the  metalophulid  II,  the 
diagonally  directed  mesostylid  crest,  and  the  metastylid  crest. 
When  the  anterolingual  fossettid  is  not  complete  in  the  anthill 
collection,  this  is  usually  the  result  of  weak  development  of  the 
mesostylid  crest.  In  Mi  of  the  Deep  River  specimen,  the  meso- 
stylid crest  from  the  metalophulid  II  is  stout  but  barely  makes 
occlusal  contact  with  the  mesostylid.  In  M.  hippodus  an  antero- 
lingual fossettid  is  seldom  formed  because  the  metalophulid  II 
does  not  extend  toward  the  metaconid. 

In  the  specimen  from  the  Deep  River  Formation,  the  Lemhi 
collection,  SDSM  6277,  the  anthill  collection,  and  Meniscomys 
hippodus,  the  central  fossettid  is  the  deepest  of  the  four  or  five 
fossettids.  In  the  Mi  of  a primitive  form  of  Meniscomys  from  the 
John  Day  Formation,  a lingual  inflection  is  present  but  there  is 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


9 


little  or  no  indication  of  a crest  tending  to  enclose  a central  fos- 
settid.  In  more  advanced  forms  a central  fossettid  is  formed  in 
Mi.  In  the  M2  of  Meniscomys  the  central  fossettid  is  usually 
closed. 

The  lingual  inflection  in  Mi  and  M2  of  the  Deep  River  form  is 
closed  at  the  lingual  extremity  by  a low  crest  forming  a basin  or 
shelf  at  the  base  of  the  inflection,  well  below  the  closure  of  the 
central  fossettid  (Fig.  2a).  A small,  shallow  fossettid  is  formed  at 
the  base  of  this  inflection  on  Mi,  but  is  not  quite  formed  on  M2. 
In  SDSM  6277,  ISU  18594  and  most  of  the  anthill  collection,  the 
shelf  is  absent  and  the  inflection  usually  fades  out  at  depth.  A 
shelf  may  or  may  not  be  present  in  Meniscomys  hippodus;  in 
primitive  specimens  of  Meniscomys  from  the  John  Day  Forma- 
tion a shelf  tends  to  be  present  but  does  not  enclose  a fossettid. 

The  mesoconid  in  the  Deep  River  specimen  is  a triangular 
cusp,  with  a heavy  labial  spur  that  joins  the  anterior  margin  of 
the  hypoconid  to  enclose  a very  small,  shallow  posterolabial  fos- 
settid (Fig.  2a).  The  configurations  in  SDSM  6277  and  the  anthill 
collection  are  similar  except  that  the  mesoconid  in  Mi  is  smaller 
and  less  distinct  (Fig.  3e).  The  mesoconid  spur  is  directed  antero- 
labiad  in  the  Deep  River  specimen,  whereas  it  runs  posterolabiad 
in  SDSM  6277  and  strongly  so  in  the  anthill  specimens  (Fig.  3e). 
In  Meniscomys  hippodus  the  mesoconid  is  a distinct  cusp,  but  the 
structure  connecting  it  with  the  hypoconid  is  a thinner  crest  than 
that  in  Promylagaulus . 

The  hypoconid  in  the  Deep  River  form,  the  Lemhi  collection, 
SDSM  6277,  and  the  anthill  collection  is  posterolabialiy  com- 
pressed and,  as  in  Pa,  expanded  anteriorly  (Figs.  2a,  3e).  In  the 
Deep  River  specimen  the  anteroposterior  expanse  of  the  labial 
inflection  is  less  than  in  the  other  specimens  and  more  deeply 
incised  medially,  especially  in  Mi.  The  posterolophid  is  poste- 
riorly expanded  and  convex  in  the  specimens  from  Montana, 
Idaho  and  South  Dakota,  but  the  convexity  is  most  pronounced, 
especially  at  the  transverse  midpoint  of  the  crest,  in  the  Deep 
River  form.  The  hypoconid  of  Meniscomys  hippodus  is  expanded 
rather  than  compressed  posterolabialiy,  and  the  posterior  surface 
of  the  posterolophid  is  relatively  straight. 

The  posterior  fossettid  in  the  specimen  from  Montana  is  poly- 
gonal in  shape,  owing  to  prominence  of  the  hypoconulid  and 
entoconid,  with  the  long  diameter  aligned  anterolabially.  In 
SDSM  6277  and  the  anthill  collection,  the  fossettid  has  the  same 
orientation  but  is  more  smoothly  oval  in  outline.  In  Meniscomys 
hippodus  the  posterior  fossettid  is  more  compressed  than  in  any 
of  the  other  forms  and  the  long  axis  is  aligned  anteroposteriorly. 

Mi  in  the  lightly  worn  dentition  from  the  Deep  River  Forma- 
tion, UWBM  38103,  as  in  the  intermediately  worn  specimen 
from  the  Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  18594),  appears  somewhat  larger 
than  M2  (Fig.  2a).  In  the  heavily  worn  dentition  from  Montana, 
UWBM  28075,  Mi  is  slightly  smaller  in  occlusal  dimensions 
than  M2  (Fig.  2b).  Mi  in  the  little  worn  dentition  of  SDSM  6277 
is  slightly  larger  at  the  occlusal  surface  than  M2.  The  isolated 
lower  molars  of  the  anthill  collection  vary  greatly  in  size,  prob- 
ably in  part  due  to  such  positional  variation.  In  little  worn  denti- 
tions of  Meniscomys  from  Oregon,  Mi  and  M2  are  almost  equal 
in  size.  However,  in  well  worn  dentitions  Mi  becomes  relatively 
smaller,  especially  in  anteroposterior  length,  than  in  UWBM 
38075. 

At  the  late  stage  of  wear  represented  in  the  Deep  River  form 
(Fig.  2b),  the  labial  inflection  has  disappeared  and  the  occlusal 
edge  of  the  labial  enamel  forms  a thick  crest  extending  from  the 
anterolabial  corner  of  Mi  or  M2  across  the  labial  face  and  onto 
the  posterior  face.  The  remaining  three-fifths  or  more  of  the 


occlusal  margin  in  Mi  lacks  enamel.  An  isolated  bit  of  lingual 
enamel  persists  in  M2.  The  only  fossettid  remaining  in  these  teeth 
is  the  central  one  in  M2.  The  molars  at  this  stage  are  reduced  in 
size  and  rather  oval  in  shape. 

In  the  teeth  from  the  anthill  collection,  the  basal  enamel  of  the 
hypoconid  region  extends  more  prominently  posterolabiad  than  in 
UWBM  38075,  giving  the  teeth  an  angular  outline  that  persists 
with  wear.  Furthermore,  the  posterior  surface  at  depth  is  invag- 
inated,  marking  a division  between  the  vestigial  roots  which  is 
not  indicated  in  UWBM  38075  nor  ISU  18594.  In  Meniscomys 
hippodus,  the  labial  inflection  persists  into  late  stages  of  wear, 
and  the  teeth  retain  an  angular  outline. 

Full  measurement  of  the  degree  of  hypsodonty  in  the  molars 
from  the  Deep  River  Formation  is  impossible  because  the  enamel 
is  either  partially  hidden  by  alveolar  bone,  or  much  of  it  has  been 
worn  away.  Judging  from  the  amount  of  enamel  remaining  on  M2 
of  UWBM  38075,  the  ratio  of  enamel  length  to  tooth  width  was 
greater  than  that  in  a specimen  of  the  Lemhi  collection  (Fig.  5 
and  Table  4).  The  relative  length  of  enamel  is  greater  in  the  ant- 
hill collection  than  in  the  Lemhi  collection.  An  isolated  molar 
from  another  locality  (SDSM  V59)  is  less  hypsodont  than  that  of 
the  Lemhi  collection  or  those  of  the  anthill  collection  and  may  be 
more  closely  related  to  P.  riggsi.  The  depth  of  the  labial  enamel 
in  Meniscomys  hippodus  is  one-third  or  less  that  in  the  Lemhi  or 
anthill  collections.  Although  the  type  of  Promylagaulus  riggsi 
lacks  the  lower  dentition,  an  indication  of  the  degree  of  hypso- 
donty of  this  specimen  relative  to  that  of  the  other  collections  is 
obtainable  from  the  upper  dentition,  described  in  a later  section. 

A thin  layer  of  cement  extends  over  the  lower  part  of  the 
enamel  in  several  of  the  lower  molars  of  the  anthill  collection, 
and  a rather  heavy  layer  extends  at  least  1.3  mm  above  the  base 
of  the  lingual  enamel  on  UM  5193  of  the  Lemhi  collection. 
Cement  extends  perhaps  0.5  mm  up  the  lingual  enamel  of  M2  in 
UWBM  38075. 

The  first  and  second  molars  of  AMNH  56333,  from  Darton's 
Bluff,  lack  fossettids,  owing  to  the  advanced  stage  of  wear. 
These  teeth  are  oval  in  occlusal  outline  — slightly  more  so  than 
in  the  less  worn  molars  of  UWBM  38075,  and  differ  in  this 
respect  from  the  angular  pattern  in  the  anthill  collection.  In  con- 
trast to  UWBM  38075,  the  lingual  and  posterior  enamel  in  this 
specimen  still  persists  in  spite  of  the  deeper  stage  of  wear  with 


WOLFF  RH.  

ANTHILL  OJ 

DEEP  R.  lUl 

LEMHI  j EJ 

V 59  , 1 I „ . , , . , , , , , , „ . , — , 

0.80  0 84  088  092  096  1,00  1.04  1.08  1.12 


Figure  5.  Frequency  distributions  of  values  of  ratio  of  depth  of  labial 
enamel  below  highest  point  of  posterior  dentinal  tract  to  transverse  width 
of  Mi  or  Mz  in  Promylagaulus.  Localities  are  those  in  Fig.  4,  plus  SDSM 
V59.  Base  measurements  for  classes  are  listed.  Arrow  indicates  incom- 
plete measurement. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


10 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


TABLE  4 

Depth1  of  Labial  Enamel  on  Mi,  M2  (mm) 


DEI  DE2 


MUSEUM  NUMBER 

LOCALITY,  TAXON 

DEI 

DE2 

W1 

W2 

UWBM  38075 

Deep  River  Fm.  (UWA  5867) 

— 

2.0+ 

— 

>0.95 

ISU  18594 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  59003) 

— 

2.0 

— 

0.95 

LA  CM  117435 

Anthill  Collection  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.5 

— 

1.14 

LACM  117441 

Anthill  Collection  (LACM  1871) 

2.1 

— 

— 

1.11 

LACM  117373 

Anthill  Collection  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.1 

— 

1.17 

LACM  9339 

Wolff  Ranch  (LACM  20051) 

1.9 

— 

1.27 

— 

SDSM  59158 

Monroe  Creek  Fm.  (SDSM  V59) 

— 

2.1 

— 

0.83 

UCMP  105066 

Meniscomys  hippodus  (UCMP  V-6506-1) 

— 

0.7 

— 

0.37 

UCMP  105058 

Meniscomys  hippodus  (UCMP  V-6506-2) 

— 

0.6 

— 

0.33 

'Measured  from  level  of  apex  of  posterior  dentinal  tract  to  lowermost  margin  of  labial  enamel. 

DEI  = Depth  of  labial  enamel  on  Mi . 

DE2  = Depth  of  labial  enamel  on  M2. 

W1  = Transverse  width  of  enamel  on  Mi. 

W2  = Transverse  width  of  enamel  on  M2. 


respect  to  the  bases  of  the  lakes.  This  suggests  that  the  dentinal 
tracts  may  not  be  as  vertically  extensive  as  in  UWBM  38075. 

Lower  Third  Molar 

This  tooth  is  missing  in  the  little  worn  dentition  of  the  Deep 
River  Formation,  UWBM  38103,  but  is  just  emerging  from  the 
alveolus  in  SDSM  6277  and  is  present  in  ISU  18594.  Several 
third  molars  are  recognizable  among  the  isolated  teeth  of  the  ant- 
hill collection.  The  mesostylid  crest  in  the  M3  of  SDSM  6277 
and  specimens  of  the  anthill  collection  is,  unlike  the  development 
in  M,_,,  absent  or  incomplete.  Metalophulid  II  extends  from  the 
ectolophid  near  the  protoconid  to  the  metaconid.  An  anterolin- 
gual  fossettid  is  therefore  not  formed  in  these  specimens.  In  ISU 
18594  the  mesostylid  crest  is  complete.  In  Meniscomys  hippodus 
the  mesostylid  crest  is  complete,  as  in  Mj_2. 

The  region  of  the  posterior  fossettid  in  the  M3  of  SDSM  6277, 
the  anthill  collection  and  ISU  18594  is  shallower  and  anteropos- 
teriorly  shorter  than  that  of  M,_2.  This  correlates  with  the  size  of 
the  talonid,  which  is  restricted  in  anteroposterior  length.  The 
posterolophid  and  ectolophid  join  at  the  hypoconid  in  an  acute, 
labially  prominent  V.  in  correlation  with  a posterolabial  flattening 
of  the  hypoconid.  In  Meniscomys  hippodus  the  hypoconid  is  not 
flattened  on  its  posterior  surface,  which  is  strongly  convex,  and 
the  axis  of  the  posterior  fossettid  is  anteroposteriorly  aligned.  The 
hypolophid  is  frequently  weak  or  absent  in  the  specimens  from 
South  Dakota,  but  is  present  and  moderately  strong  in  Promyla- 
gaulus lemhiensis . 

The  labial  inflection  of  M3  in  ISU  18595,  SDSM  6277  and  the 
anthill  collection  is  more  expansive  anteroposteriorly  than  in 
M1-2.  No  posterolabial  fossettid  is  enclosed  between  hypoconid 
and  mesoconid.  A distinct  labial  spur  is  present  on  the  mesoconid 
of  ISU  18594  but  is  reduced  or  absent  in  the  samples  from  South 
Dakota.  The  labial  inflection  of  M3  in  Meniscomys  hippodus  is 
little  if  any  larger  than  that  of  M1-2,  and  a posterolabial  fossettid 
is  present. 

The  M3  of  ISU  18594,  SDSM  6277  and  the  anthill  collection 


is  distinctly  smaller  in  occlusal  dimensions  than  M,_2.  In  Menis- 
comys hippodus  the  size  of  M3  more  closely  approximates  that  of 
the  anterior  molars. 

Upper  Incisor 

The  upper  dentition  of  the  Deep  River  taxon  is  unknown  but  in 
the  Lemhi  Valley  collection  all  upper  teeth  are  represented.  The 
anthill  collection  contains  teeth  representing  P4,  M1,  M2,  M3,  but 
not  P3  (L.  Macdonald  1972:25-26).  The  dentition  in  the  type  of 
Promylagaulus  riggsi  (FMNH  P26256)  consists  of  the  upper 
incisor,  P3,  and  well  worn  P4-M3. 

The  upper  incisor  in  the  Lemhi  Valley  collection  is  gently  con- 
vex across  the  anterior  face,  the  medial  and  lateral  margins  of 
which  turn  posteriad  at  approximately  equal  angles.  The  tooth 
closely  resembles  that  of  Promylagaulus  riggsi,  except  that  it  is 
larger.  The  upper  incisor  in  Meniscomys  is  similarly  proportioned 
but  appears  to  be  anteroposteriorly  relatively  shorter  in  cross  sec- 
tion. 

Upper  Third  Premolar 

The  P3  of  Promylagaulus  riggsi  and  the  Lemhi  collection  is 
more  slender  and  strongly  compressed  than  that  of  Meniscomys. 
The  crown  lacks  a basal  swelling  which  is  characteristic  of 
Meniscomys.  The  long  axis  of  the  occlusal  outline  trends  antero- 
labiad  (Fig.  6a),  whereas  that  in  Meniscomys  is  aligned  anteriorly 
or  anterolingually.  There  is  no  distinct  anterior  or  posterior  carina 
on  the  crown,  whereas  both  structures  are  present  in  Meniscomys. 
The  tooth  is  curved  from  root  to  apex  of  crown,  with  the  concave 
side  facing  anterolinguad,  whereas  the  axis  in  Meniscomys  is 
straight.  The  axial  curvature  in  P.  riggsi  and  UM  5285  places  the 
apex  of  the  tooth  well  forward  of  P4,  so  that  occlusal  contact  with 
P-4  during  mastication  may  have  been  impossible.  The  worn  sur- 
face in  P.  riggsi  is  polished  and  rounded,  suggesting  that  only 
food  abrasion,  not  contact  wear,  has  occurred.  In  the  Lemhi 
specimens  no  wear  is  apparent.  A distinct  facet,  indicating  con- 
tact wear,  is  characteristic  of  the  P3  in  Meniscomys. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


11 


Figure  6.  Promylagaulus,  stereo  views  of  upper  cheek  teeth.  a-P.  riggsi,  occlusal  view  left  P3-M2,  FMNH  P26256;  b-P  ovatus. 
occlusal  view  little  worn  left  P4,  LACM  117434,  locality  LACM  1871;  c-P.  ovatus,  occlusal  view  worn  left  P4,  LACM  117378, 
locality  LACM  1871;  d-P.  riggsi,  posterior  view  left  M2,  FMNH  P26256;  e-P . ovatus,  occlusal  view  left  M1  or  M2.  LACM  1 17428. 
locality  LACM  1871;/-same,  posterior  view.  Scale  = 1 mm. 


Upper  Fourth  Premolar 

The  P4  of  the  Lemhi  collection  is  larger  than  that  of  the  anthill 
collection.  This  tooth  is  smallest  in  Promylagaulus  riggsi  (Table 
5).  The  anterocone,  the  anterolabial  cusp  characteristic  of  the  P4 
of  aplodontoids  (Fig.  6a-c),  is  more  lingually  expanded  in  the 
specimens  from  the  anthill  locality  and  Lemhi  Valley  than  in 
Meniscomys,  and  extends  into  the  area  occupied  in  the  latter  by  a 
distinct  cusp,  the  anterostyle.  The  anterostyle  is  poorly  developed 
and  sometimes  absent  in  specimens  of  the  anthill  collection.  The 
parastyle  and  mesostyle  (Fig.  6a- c)  are  thinner  and  less  prom- 
inent labially  than  in  Meniscomys,  and  virtually  absent  in  some 
individuals.  A distinctive  feature,  shared  by  Promylagaulus 
riggsi  and  the  specimens  of  the  anthill  and  Lemhi  collections,  is  a 
slight  lingual  displacement  of  the  labial  enamel  just  anterior  to 
the  mesostyle.  The  planes  of  vertical  enamel  in  front  of  and  pos- 
terior to  the  mesostyle  more  nearly  approximate  one  another  in 


Meniscomys.  The  worn  occlusal  outline  of  the  tooth  in  the  anthill 
and  Lemhi  collections  (Fig.  6c)  lacks  much  of  the  anterolingual 
notch  between  the  region  of  the  anterocone  and  the  region  of  the 
protocone  in  Promylagaulus  riggsi  (Fig.  6a),  making  the  tooth 
appear  more  oval.  In  the  worn  P4  of  P.  riggsi  (Fig.  6a),  the  plane 
of  wear  in  the  region  of  the  parastyle  and  anterocone  is  more 
steeply  inclined  posteriad  than  in  the  teeth  of  the  Lemhi  Valley 
and  anthill  collections  (Fig.  6c).  No  appression  facet  for  P3  is 
present  on  P4  in  the  specimens  of  the  anthill  collection,  which 
suggests  that,  as  in  P.  riggsi  and  the  Lemhi  collection,  the  crown 
of  P3  does  not  occlude  with  P4  during  normal  mastication.  An 
appression  facet  is  normally  present  in  Meniscomys  hippodus. 

A conspicuous  difference  in  the  occlusal  pattern  from  that  in 
Meniscomys  is  the  presence  in  all  specimens  of  Promylagaulus  of 
extreme  anteroposterior  length  in  the  protocone,  and  correspond- 
ing lingual  flatness  of  the  cusp  (Fig.  6b).  The  outline  of  the  worn 
tooth  in  Promylagaulus  is  normally  elongate  anteroposteriorly 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


12 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


TABLE  5 

Length  and  Width  of  Upper  Cheek  Teeth  (mm) 


MUSEUM 


NUMBER 

LOCALITY,  TAXON 

LP4  / 

WP4/ 

LM1/ 

WM1/ 

LM2/ 

WM2/ 

UM  4038 

P.  lemhiensis  (UMV  7303) 

4.0 

3.3 

2.1(H) 

2.9 

2.4 

2.7 

UM  5193 

Lemhi  Valley  (UMV  7303) 

— 

— 

2.2(H) 

2.9 

2.2 

2.7 

UM  5285 

Lemhi  Valley  (UMV  7303) 

4.4 

3.7 

2.5(H) 

3.0 

2.7 

2.8 

ISU  18601 

Lemhi  Valley  (ISU  18601) 

— 

3.9 

2.9(H) 

3.3 

2.4 

2.8 

LACM  117376 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

2.6 

— 

— 

— 

— 

LACM  117377 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

2.4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

LACM  117378 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

2.8 

— 

— 

— 

— 

LACM  117380 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

3.5 

2.8 

— 

— 

— 

— 

LACM  117418 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

1.9 

2.0 

— 

— 

LACM  117422 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

2.0 

1.9 

— 

— 

LACM  117425 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

1.8 

1.7 

— 

— 

LACM  117374 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.0 

2.0 

LACM  117419 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.0 

1.9 

LACM  1 17424 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1.9 

1.8 

LACM  117417 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2.1 

2.0 

FMNH  P26256 

P.  riggsi 

3.3 

2.6 

1.5 

2.0 

1.7 

2.0 

LP4/  = 
WP4/  = 
LM1/  = 
WM 1/  = 
LM2/  = 
WM2/  = 


Anteroposterior  length  of  P4,  at  occlusal  surface. 

Transverse  width  of  P4  at  level  of  labial  flexure  of  crown  (below  basal  swelling). 
Anteroposterior  length  of  M1  at  occlusal  surface  (wear:  H = heavy). 

Transverse  width  of  M1  at  occlusal  surface. 

Length  of  M2  at  level  of  labial  flexure  of  crown. 

Transverse  width  of  M2  at  level  of  labial  flexure  of  crown  (below  basal  swelling). 


(Fig.  6a- c),  whereas  the  anteroposterior  and  transverse  dimen- 
sions are  almost  equal  in  Meniscomys.  The  paracone,  proto- 
conule,  and  metaconule  are  also  quite  elongate  anteroposteriorly 
and  exhibit  flattened  labial  and  lingual  surfaces.  This  trend 
toward  lophodonty  is  advanced  over  that  known  fox  Meniscomys, 
although  a similarly  directed  trend  has  commenced  in  the  latter 
(Rensberger.  in  manuscript). 

The  crown  of  the  premolar  in  the  anthill  and  Lemhi  collections 
and  Promylagaulus  riggsi  is  curved  along  the  vertical  axis,  which 
is  lingually  convex  and  labially  concave  (Fig.  6b).  Both  labial 
and  lingual  surfaces  are  vertically  convex  in  Meniscomys,  so  that 
the  axis  appears  rather  straight.  The  anterolingual  fossette  is  alto- 
gether absent  in  one  unworn  specimen  of  the  anthill  collection, 
frequently  disappears  in  early  wear  (Fig.  6c),  and  is  absent  in 
known  specimens  of  the  Lemhi  collection  (Nichols  1976).  This 
fossette  is  present  in  both  P.  riggsi  and  Meniscomys . The  area 
normally  occupied  by  the  anterolingual  fossette  in  most  aplodon- 
toids  is  partially  reached  in  the  specimens  of  Promylagaulus  lack- 
ing it  by  the  anteriorly  elongate  posterolingual  fossette  and  the 
lingually  expanded  anterolabial  fossette.  The  posterolingual  fos- 
sette is  aligned  almost  anteroposteriorly  in  the  Lemhi  and  anthill 
collections  (Fig.  6c),  whereas  it  slants  anterolabially  in  P.  riggsi 
(Fig.  6a)  and  Meniscomys. 

Upper  Molars 

The  upper  molars,  like  the  premolar,  are  largest  in  the  Lemhi 
collection  and  smallest  in  Promylagaulus  riggsi  (Fig.  7).  The 
molars  of  P.  riggsi,  especially  M1-2,  are  rather  rectangular  in 
occlusal  outline,  and  the  anteroposterior  length  is  less  than  the 


width  (Fig.  6a).  In  the  anthill  and  Lemhi  collections  the  length 
and  width  are  subequal  (Fig.  6e).  Poor  development  or  lack  of 
the  mesostyle,  at  least  in  late  wear,  and  limited  lingual  convexity 
contribute  to  the  rectangular  shape.  In  the  little  worn  molars  of 
the  anthill  collection,  the  anteroposterior  length  may  be  greater 
than  the  width,  but  with  wear  the  width  increases  to  essentially 
the  length.  In  the  stage  of  wear  in  which  the  labial  (vertical) 
flexure  of  the  crown  has  reached  the  occlusal  surface,  the  length 
in  the  anthill  collection  is  approximately  equal  to  the  width, 
whereas  the  width  exceeds  the  length  at  the  same  stage  in  the 
Lemhi  collection  and  P.  riggsi  (Table  5).  In  all  groups  including 
Meniscomys,  the  anteroposterior  length  of  M1  shortens  more 
rapidly  with  wear  than  does  that  of  M2.  The  molars  in  Menis- 
comys bear  strong  mesostyles  and  strongly  convex  lingual  mar- 


LEMHI  I I I I 


ANTHILL  I I 

P.  RIGGSI  1 I i i j ■ 

1.5  2.0  2.5  3.0 


Figure  7.  Frequency  distributions  of  anteroposterior  length  of  M1  in 
specimens  of  Promylagaulus  at  localities  Lemhi  Valley  (UM  V-7303  = 
1SU  59003)  and  Anthill  (LACM  1871),  with  value  for  type  of  P riggsi. 
Base  measurements  for  classes  are  listed. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


13 


TABLE  6 

Depth1  of  Lingual  Enamel  on  M1,  M2  (mm) 


MUSEUM  NUMBER 

LOCALITY,  TAXON 

DEI/ 

DE2/ 

DEI/ 

WM1/ 

DE2/ 

WM2/ 

LACM  1 17417 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 



2.9 



1.38 

LACM  117419 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.3 

— 

1.15 

LACM  117424 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

2.2 

— 

1.16 

— 

LACM  117428 

Anthill  (LACM  1871) 

— 

2.3 

— 

1.21 

ISU  18601 

Lemhi  (ISU  59003) 

2.0+ 

1.9+ 

0.61  + 

0.56  + 

UM  5285 

Lemhi  (UMV  7303) 

— 

2.2 

— 

0.82 

UM  4038 

P.  lemhiensis  (UMV  7303) 

— 

2.4+ 

. 

0.89+ 

FMNH  P26256 

P riggsi 

— 

1.4 

— 

0.70 

UWBM  29232 

Meniscomys  hippodus 
(UWA  5183-2) 

0.5 

0.23 

'measured  from  level  of  apex  of  posterior  enamel-dentine  chevron  to  uppermost  margin  of  lingual  enamel. 


WM1/  = Transverse  width  of  M1  near  apex  of  posterior  dentinal  tract. 
DEI/  = Depth  of  lingual  enamel  on  ML 

WM2/  = Transverse  width  of  M2  near  apex  of  posterior  dentinal  tract. 
DE2/  = Depth  of  lingual  enamel  on  M2. 


gins.  The  width  of  M’  or  M2  in  Meniscomys  is  greater  than  the 
length  in  all  but  the  earliest  stages  of  wear.  The  transverse 
dimension  of  the  anterior  margin  of  the  tooth  in  the  three  groups 
of  Promylagaulus  is  only  slightly  if  at  all  less  than  that  of  the 
posterior  margin  (Fig.  6e),  whereas  a very  narrow  anterior 
dimension  is  characteristic  of  Meniscomys.  With  moderate  wear, 
only  the  posterolingual  fossette  remains  in  Promylagaulus. 
whereas  several  of  the  smaller  fossettes  are  present  until  late 
stages  of  wear  in  Meniscomys. 

The  unworn  M3  in  the  anthill  collection  contains  anterolabial, 
anterolingual,  posterolabial  and  posterolingual  fossettes,  but  no 
central  fossette.  The  posterolabial  fossette  is  usually  the  largest 
and  deepest,  although  in  several  specimens  the  posterolingual 
fossette  is  dominant.  A single,  probably  posterolabial,  fossette  is 
present  in  the  well  worn  M3  of  Promylagaulus  riggsi  and  the 
Lemhi  collection.  In  Meniscomys  the  central  fossette  is  present 
and  moderately  persistent,  and  the  posterolabial  fossette  is  the 
largest  and  deepest. 


ANTHILL 


n n 


As  in  P4,  the  crowns  of  the  molars  in  Promylagaulus  are  verti- 
cally curved  with  the  concave  side  labial  (Fig.  6f).  No  compara- 
ble curvature  is  apparent  in  Meniscomys.  Long  dentinal  tracts 
extend  down  the  anterior  and  posterior  sides  of  the  molars  in  the 
anthill  collection.  A tract  is  visible  on  the  posterior  side  of  the 
left  M2  in  P.  riggsi  (Fig.  6d)  but  is  shallower  than  the  corre- 
sponding plate  in  specimens  of  the  anthill  collection  (Fig.  6f). 
The  margins  of  the  chevron- shaped  enamel  edges  bordering  the 
dentinal  tracts  are  more  steeply  inclined  in  the  anthill  specimens 
(Fig.  6f)  than  in  P.  riggsi  (Fig.  6e)  and  suggest  greater  hypso- 
donty.  Furthermore,  the  lingual  enamel  plate,  measured  from  the 
apex  of  the  chevron  (lowest  part  of  the  tract),  is  considerably 
longer  in  the  anthill  specimens  than  in  P.  riggsi  (Fig.  8 and  Table 
6).  This  difference  in  enamel  length  is,  for  example,  approxi- 
mately equivalent  to  the  change  in  length  of  the  enamel  of  the 
upper  and  lower  molars  spanning  three  chronologically  succes- 
sive taxa  of  early  Miocene  pocket  gophers,  Entoptychus  minor, 
E.  cavifrons,  and  E.  transitorius  (Rensberger  1971:79-85).  The 
depth  of  the  lingual  enamel  relative  to  tooth  width  on  M2  is 
apparently  intermediate  in  the  Lemhi  collection  between  that  of 
P.  riggsi  and  that  in  the  anthill  collection  (Fig.  8 and  Table  6). 
The  roots  of  the  upper  molars  in  the  anthill  collection  are  greatly 
reduced  compared  to  those  in  the  Lemhi  collection  and  P.  riggsi. 


LEMHI  1 *! I f~L 

P.  RIGGSI  . . . I I 

0.6  0.7  0.6  0.9  1.0  1.1  1.2  1.3  1.4 


Figure  8.  Frequency  distributions  of  ratio  of  depth  of  lingual  enamel 
above  lowermost  point  of  posterior  dentinal  tract  to  width  of  M1  or  M2  in 
Promylagaulus . Localities  as  listed  for  Fig.  7.  Base  measurements  for 
classes  are  listed.  Arrows  indicate  incomplete  measurements. 


SYSTEMATIC  PALEONTOLOGY 
Order  RODENTIA 

Superfamily  Aplodontoidea  Matthew  1910 
Family  Mylagaulidae  Cope  1881 
Promylagaulus  McGrew  1941 

GENOTYPIC  SPECIES:  Promylagaulus  riggsi  McGrew  1941. 
DEFINITION  (REVISED):  More  hypsodont  than  Meniscomys. 
P3  slender,  curving  anterolinguad,  with  long  axis  of  cross  section 
slanting  anterolabiad,  lacking  occlusal  contact.  P4  with  lingually 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


14 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


expanded  anterocone,  parastyle  and  mesostyle  more  reduced  than 
in  Mylagaulodon,  ectoloph  anterior  to  mesostyle  displaced 
linguad,  protocone  expanded  anteroposteriorly  and  relatively  flat 
lingually,  posterolabial  fossette  smaller,  less  persistent  than  in 
other  mylagaulids  or  Meniscomys,  anterolingual  fossette  reduced 
or  absent,  posterolingual  fossette  extended  craniad,  anterolabial 
fossette  expanded  linguad. 

M'~2  rectangular  in  occlusal  outline,  at  least  in  earlier  stages  of 
wear;  with  mesostyle  reduced  or  absent,  tendency  for  anteropos- 
terior elongation  of  lower  part  of  crown,  persistence  of  postero- 
lingual fossette  long  after  others  have  worn  away.  P4-M2  with 
vertically  elongate,  curved  (labially  concave)  crowns,  anterior 
and  posterior  dentinal  tracts. 

P4  with  long,  strong  metastylid  crest  from  metaconid  to  meso- 
stylid,  enclosing  lingual  fossettid;  mesostylid  usually  indistinct; 
mesoconid  flattened  labially  in  mature  stages  of  wear;  poor 
development  of  anterior  branch  of  labial  inflection,  smaller  than 
in  other  mylagaulids  or  Meniscomys,  extensive  development  of 
posterior  branch;  posterolabially  compressed,  anteriorly  expanded 
hypoconid,  narrow  entrance  to  labial  inflection. 

Mi  with  strong  central  fossettid.  M,_2  with  strong  metastylid 
crest;  hypoconid  posterolabially  compressed,  anteriorly 
expanded;  posterolophid  posteriorly  convex;  posterior  fossettid 
trending  anterolabiad;  metalophulid  II  extending  to  apex  of  meta- 
conid; crest  from  mesostylid  bending  craniad  to  join  center  of 
metalophulid  II;  anterior  and  lingual  fossettids  present;  meso- 
stylid indistinct,  lacking  lingual  prominence,  especially  on  Mi; 
tendency  to  lose  rectangular  outline  and  labial  inflection  in  late 
wear. 

M3  with  hypoconid  posteriorly  flattened;  labial  inflection  rela- 
tively larger  anteroposteriorly  than  in  Mu2;  absolute  occlusal 
dimensions  much  smaller  than  those  of  M,_2;  no  mesostylid  crest; 
metalophulid  II  extending  from  metaconid  to  protoconid;  no  pos- 
terolabial fossettid. 

SPECIES:  P.  riggsi  McGrew,  L.  Mioc.  S.  Dak.;  P.  ovatus  (n. 
sp.)  L.  Mioc.,  S.  Dak.;  P.  lemhiensis  Nichols,  L.  Mioc.  Idaho; 
P.  montanensis  (n.  sp.)  L.  Mioc.  Montana. 

Promylagaulus  riggsi  McGrew  1941 

(Fig.  6a,d) 

McGrew,  P.O.,  1941,  Figs.  1,  2c,  3. 

TYPE;  Skull,  lacking  anterior  extremities  of  nasals,  zygomatic 
arches  and  cranium  posterior  to  orbits;  with  right  and  left  I, 
P3-M2;  right  M3;  FMNH  P26256. 

TYPE  LOCALITY;  Four  miles  south  of  Porcupine,  South  Da- 
kota. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  POSITION:  “Top  of  lower  Rosebud 
beds”  (McGrew  1941:6);  “Probably  Rosebud  Formation” 
(J.R.  Macdonald  1963:179).  Monroe  Creek  Formation  or  Harri- 
son Formation  or  Rosebud  Formation  (L.  Macdonald  1972:25). 

AGE:  Arikareean  or  Hemingfordian,  early  or  middle  Miocene, 
based  on  the  range  of  possible  stratigraphic  positions  cited  above. 
Older  than  late  Arikareean,  based  on  comparative  stages  of 
advancement  of  other  species. 

REFERRED  SPECIMEN:  SDSM  59158,  M2,  from  locality 
SDSM  V59. 

DIAGNOSIS  (REVISED):  Smaller  than  other  species.  Worn 
occlusal  surface  of  anterocone  on  P4  with  pronounced  inclination 
posteriad;  anterolingual  fossette  of  P4  present  in  known  speci- 


men; posterolingual  and  anterolabial  fossettes  more  restricted 
than  in  P.  ovatus,  P.  lemhiensis;  posterolingual  fossette  with 
strong  anterolabial  slant;  worn  occlusal  outline  with  distinct  notch 
separating  anteriorly  prominent  anterocone  from  protocone;  with 
angular  posterolingual  corner. 

Anteroposterior  length  of  M1  and  M2  becoming  less  than  trans- 
verse width  well  before  wear  reaches  labial  tlexure  of  crown; 
ratio  of  depth  of  lingual  enamel  on  M2  to  width  of  tooth  0.70, 
less  than  in  other  species;  sides  of  posterior  dentinal  tract  of  M1-2 
less  vertical  than  in  other  species. 

Promylagaulus  lemhiensis  Nichols  1976 

Nichols,  R.,  1976,  Figs.  7,  8b;  PI.  1,  Figs.  5-10. 

TYPE:  Fragment  of  rostrum  and  palate  with  root  of  right  I, 
worn  left  P3-M2,  UM  4038. 

TYPE  LOCALITY:  Big  Wash  (Univ.  of  Montana  locality  MV 
7303,  in  part).  NW'/aNW1/)  sec.  17,  T.  17  N.,  R.  25  E.,  Lemhi 
quadrangle,  Idaho. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  POSITION:  Specimens  from  middle  part 
of  400  foot  section,  Peterson  Creek  beds,  an  informal  unit 
(Nichols,  1976). 

ZONE:  Upper  Meniscomys  Concurrent-range  Zone  (Nichols, 
1976:13). 

AGE:  Arikareean,  early  Miocene. 

REFERRED  SPECIMENS:  UM  5193,  cranial  and  mandibular 
fragments  with  worn  M^“3;  UM  4039,  worn  P4;  UM  4055,  little 
worn  P4;  UM  5285,  partial  skull  with  I,  worn  P3-M3;  ISU 
18594,  mandible  with  little  worn  P4,  moderate  to  little  worn 
M,_3;  ISU  18601,  associated  P4  (fragment),  M1-3,  P4.  All  from  a 
series  of  closely  related  exposures.  University  of  Montana  local- 
ity MV  7303  (=  ISU  59003);  ISU  18594  from  stratigraphically 
21  m above  type  specimen. 

DIAGNOSIS  (REVISED):  Overall  size  greater  than  that  of  P. 
riggsi,  P.  ovatus.  Occlusal  surface  of  anterocone  on  P4  nearly 
horizontal  in  mature  stages  of  wear;  anterolingual  notch,  postero- 
lingual comer  of  tooth  less  pronounced  than  in  P.  riggsi,  making 
occlusal  shape  more  oval;  posterolingual  fossette  aligned  more 
nearly  anteroposteriorly  than  in  P.  riggsi;  tooth  in  known  speci- 
mens lacking  distinct  protoconule  and  anterolingual  inflection. 

Transverse  width  of  M1-2  greater  than  anteroposterior  length  at 
level  of  labial  flexure  of  crown,  as  in  P.  riggsi,  unlike  P.  ovatus; 
ratio  of  depth  of  lingual  enamel  of  M2  above  apex  of  posterior 
dentinal  tract  to  width  of  tooth  0.82-0.89+,  greater  than  in  P. 
riggsi,  less  than  in  P.  ovatus.  Root  branches  of  M1-2  more  prom- 
inent than  in  P.  ovatus. 

Posterior  and  lingual  fossettids  of  P4  wider  relative  to  tooth 
width  (ratios  0.41,  0.30,  resp.)  than  in  P.  montanensis;  central 
width  of  tooth  greater  relative  to  overall  width  than  in  P.  mon- 
tanensis (ratio  0.67);  length  (4. 7-5.0  mm)  greater  than  in  P. 
montanensis,  P.  ovatus;  ratio  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  to  length 
of  tooth  (.43-. 44)  less  than  in  P.  ovatus,  P.  montanensis . 

Ratio  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  on  M2  to  tooth  width  (0.95) 
less  than  in  P.  ovatus.  Metastylid  crest  of  M12  with  less  poste- 
rior prominence  than  in  P.  montanensis;  no  posterolingual  fosset- 
tid, unlike  P.  montanensis;  labial  inflection  relatively  more 
expansive  anteroposteriorly  than  in  P.  montanensis;  central  pos- 
terior convexity  less  pronounced  than  in  P.  montanensis.  Heavier 
layer  of  cementum  overlapping  enamel  of  cheek  teeth  than  in  P. 
ovatus,  P.  montanensis . 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


15 


Promylagaulus  ovatus 1 new  species 

(Figs.  3a-f;  6b,c,e,f) 

Macdonald,  J.R.,  1970,  Fig.  14  (Promylagaulus  cf.  riggsi). 

Macdonald,  L.,  1972:25-26  [Promylagaulus  riggsi). 

TYPE:  Little  worn  left  M2.  LACM  117435. 

TYPE  LOCALITY:  Anthills  of  LACM  1871  (=SDSM  V6229) 
SW  V4,  sec.  9,  T.  39N.,  R.  42  W.,  east  of  Porcupine  Creek, 
Sharps  Corner  quadrangle.  South  Dakota. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  POSITION:  Upper  part  of  Monroe  Creek 
Formation  (Harksen  1970).  Fossils,  although  recovered  from 
anthills,  apparently  derived  from  two  or  three  0.6  cm  thick  bone 
bearing  layers  in  nearby  vertical  cliffs  (Harksen,  1970;  L.  Mac- 
donald 1 972:6) . Locality  may  be  at  transition  between  Monroe 
Creek  and  Harrison  formations  (James  E.  Martin,  pers.  comm.). 

ZONE:  Entoptychus-Gregorymys  Concurrent-range  Zone 
(Fisher  and  Rensberger  1972). 

AGE:  Arikareean,  early  Miocene. 

REFERRED  SPECIMENS:  LACM  117351-  117370,  117372, 
117392,  23530,  23532,  23535,  23536  (P4);  117373-  117375, 
117403,  117406,  117410-117416,  117438-117441,  23534 
(lower  molars);  117384,  117436,  23637  (DP4);  117376-  117383, 
117385-  117391,  117393-  117396,1  17434,  23538  (P4);  117371, 
117397-117400,  117404,  117405,  117407,  117417-117433, 
23528,  23529,  23531,  23534  (upper  molars);  from  locality 
LACM  1871. 

SDSM  6277,  right  mandible,  DP4-M3;  from  locality  V6210. 

LACM  9339,  right  Mi;  LACM  9340,  right  P4;  LACM  9342, 
right  P4;  from  locality  LACM  2005,  northeast  of  Wolff  Ranch, 
South  Dakota. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Smaller  than  P.  montanensis  and  P lemhiensis, 
slightly  larger  than  P.  riggsi.  Worn  occlusal  surface  of  antero- 
cone  on  P4  less  inclined  posteriad  than  in  P.  riggsi;  anterolingual 
fossette  of  P4  only  occasionally  absent  in  unworn  premolars,  but 
frequently  disappearing  with  early  wear;  posterolingual  fossette 
expanded  anteriad,  with  more  nearly  anteroposterior  alignment 
than  in  P.  riggsi;  anterolingual  notch  and  posterolingual  corner 
less  pronounced  than  in  P.  riggsi.  making  occlusal  shape  oval. 

Transverse  width  of  M1  or  M2  approximately  equal  to  antero- 
posterior length  at  level  of  vertical  flexure  of  labial  surface;  ratio 
of  depth  of  lingual  enamel  to  width  of  tooth  1.15-1.21,  greater 
than  in  P.  riggsi,  P.  lemhiensis;  sides  of  dentinal  tracts  more 
nearly  vertical  than  in  P.  riggsi;  root  branches  of  less  prominence 
than  in  P.  lemhiensis . 

Posterior  and  lingual  fossettids  of  P4  wider  relative  to  tooth 
width  (ratios  0.32-0.36,  0.27)  than  in  P.  montanensis,  possibly 
narrower  than  in  P.  lemhiensis;  ratio  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  to 
length  of  tooth  0.49-0.54,  less  than  in  P.  montanensis,  greater 
than  in  P.  lemhiensis. 

Ratio  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  on  Mi  or  M:  to  tooth  width 
1.11-1.27,  greater  than  in  P.  lemhiensis,  P.  riggsi;  metastylid 
crest  with  less  posterior  prominence  than  in  P.  montanensis;  no 
posterolingual  fossettid,  unlike  P.  montanensis;  labial  inflection 
relatively  more  expansive  anteroposteriorly,  shallower  trans- 
versely than  in  P.  montanensis;  labial  part  of  posterolophid  less 
extensive  anteriorly  than  in  P.  montanensis;  deep  portion  of  pos- 
terolophid more  protuberant  posterolabially  (less  posteriorly)  than 
in  P.  montanensis. 

DISCUSSION:  An  isolated  cheek  tooth  from  the  anthill  local- 


ity was  selected  as  the  type  of  this  species  in  lieu  of  the  mandible 
from  SDSM  V6210,  because  of  the  much  larger  sample  of  Pro- 
mylagaulus as  well  as  other  mammalian  taxa  at  the  anthill  site. 
Furthermore,  the  cheek  teeth  are  poorly  exposed  in  the  young 
mandible,  leaving  doubt  as  to  the  stage  of  advancement  in  hyp- 
sodonty. 

It  seems  likely  from  this  evidence  that  P.  riggsi,  for  which  the 
stratigraphic  occurrence  is  uncertain,  did  not  occur  in  a deposit 
which  was  contemporaneous  with  those  of  the  anthill  locality  and 
other  sites  which  have  yielded  P.  ovatus.  The  preservation  of  the 
specimens  also  suggests  this  conclusion.  The  specimens  of  Pro- 
mylagaulus from  the  anthill  locality,  that  from  SDSM  V6210, 
and  those  from  the  Wolff  Ranch  locality  (LACM  2005),  all  of 
which  are  referable  to  P.  ovatus,  are  of  medium  to  dark  or  black- 
ish brown  color,  whereas  the  teeth  of  P.  riggsi  are  very  light  in 
color. 

Placement  of  the  occurrences  of  Promylagaulus  ovatus  in  the 
Entoptychus-Gregorymys  Concurrent-range  Zone  is  based  upon 
the  abundant  association  of  Gregorymys  formosus  (L.  Macdon- 
ald 1972:30)  and  the  advanced  morphology  of  Promylagaulus 
compared  with  that  of  Meniscomys.  Meniscomys  occurs  only 
stratigraphically  beneath  the  Entoptychus-Gregorymys  Concur- 
rent-range Zone  in  the  John  Day  Formation  (Fisher  and  Rens- 
berger 1972). 

Promylagaulus  montanensis  new  species 

(Fig.  2) 

TYPE:  Right  mandible  with  DP4,  M,_2,  incisor  fragment; 
missing  upper  part  of  ascending  ramus.  UWBM  38103. 

TYPE  LOCALITY:  Spring  Creek  1 (UWA  5867-1).  SE-NW 
trending  draw  46°37.4'  N,  1 1 1 °3 .6'  W;  SE14  sec.  14,  R.  5 E., 
T.  10  N.,  Hanson  Reservoir  quadrangle,  Montana. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  POSITION:  Deep  River  Formation.  Spec- 
imens from  stratigraphically  lower  of  two  units.  Brownish  tan, 
massive  sandstone. 

ZONE:  Entoptychus-Gregorymys  Concurrent-range  Zone. 

AGE:  Arikareean,  early  Miocene. 

REFERRED  SPECIMEN:  Right  mandible  with  worn  P4-M3; 
lacking  incisor,  ventral  margin,  condylar  process  and  ascending 
ramus;  geographic  locality  and  stratigraphic  position  exactly  that 
of  type  specimen.  UWBM  38075. 

DIAGNOSIS:  Larger  than  P.  ovatus  and  P.  riggsi.  Anteropos- 
terior length  of  P4  4. 1 mm,  less  than  in  P.  lemhiensis;  ratios  of 
width  of  posterior  and  lingual  fossettids  to  tooth  width  less  than 
in  P.  lemhiensis,  P.  ovatus;  ratio  of  depth  of  labial  enamel  to 
length  of  tooth  0.68,  greater  than  in  P.  ovatus,  P.  lemhiensis; 
ratio  of  central  width  to  overall  width  of  tooth  0.55,  smaller  than 
in  P.  ovatus,  P.  lemhiensis . 

Metastylid  crest  of  M t_2  with  greater  posterior  prominence 
than  inP.  ovatus.  P.  lemhiensis;  small  posterolingual  fossettid  on 
M2,  incipient  posterolingual  fossettid  on  Mi,  unlike  P.  ovatus,  P. 
lemhiensis;  labial  inflection  anteroposteriorly  more  compressed, 
transversely  relatively  deeper  than  in  P.  ovatus,  P.  lemhiensis; 
central  posterior  convexity  of  posterolophid  more  pronounced 
than  in  P.  ovatus,  P.  lemhiensis. 

DISCUSSION:  The  placement  of  this  form  in  the  Entopty- 
chus-Gregorymys Concurrent-range  Zone  is  based  upon  an  asso- 
ciated assemblage  of  taxa,  including  Gregorymys,  to  be  described 
later. 


1 ovatus : L.,  egg  shaped,  in  reference  to  the  occlusal  outline  of  P4. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18 


16 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


Figure  9.  A possible  phylogeny  for  the  described  species  of  Promylagaulus  which  would  explain  the  morphological  and  geographical  differences.  Arrows 
designate  chronologic  intervals  during  which  increases  in  size  and  hypsodonty  presumably  occurred.  The  stratigraphic  position  of  P.  riggsi  is  uncertain. 


Promylagaulus  sp. 

McKenna  and  Love  1972,  Figs.  15,  16. 

LOCALITY:  Darton’s  Bluff  (AMNH)  Big  Horn  Mountains, 
SW'ANE'A,  sec.  19,  T.  48  N.,  R.  85  W.,  Hazelton  Peak  quad- 
rangle, Johnson  County,  Wyoming.  Exposure  along  bluff  near 
head  of  Canyon  Creek. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  POSITION:  In  22  m thick,  light  tan,  grad- 
ing upward  to  light  gray,  massive,  fine-grained  sandstone  within 
43  m Miocene  section. 

ZONE:  Entoptychus-Gregorymys  Concurrent-range  Zone. 

AGE:  Later  Arikareean,  early  Miocene. 

MATERIAL:  Right  mandible,  P4-M2,  I;  left  mandible 
P4-M3,  fragmentary  incisor.  Posterior  parts  of  both  rami  miss- 
ing. AMNH  56333. 

DISCUSSION:  Judging  from  the  illustrations  of  this  specimen, 
it  may  be  distinct  from  Promylagaulus  ovatus,  P.  montanensis, 
P.  riggsi,  and  P.  lemhiensis.  Lingual  enamel  is  present  on  the 
occlusal  surface  at  a stage  of  wear  in  which  the  occlusal  outline  is 
oval,  unlike  the  condition  in  P.  ovatus.  In  late  stages  of  wear  in 
P.  ovatus,  the  originally  rectangular  outline  remains  until  the  lin- 
gual enamel  disappears.  The  Wyoming  specimen  more  closely 
resembles  P.  montanensis  and  P.  lemhiensis  in  this  character. 


However,  the  size  is  smaller  than  that  of  P.  montanensis,  P.  lem- 
hiensis, or  P.  riggsi  and  the  dentinal  tracts  seem  to  be  less  exten- 
sive than  in  P.  montanensis,  judging  from  the  greater  continuity 
of  enamel  surrounding  the  heavily  worn  molars.  It  appears  to  be 
more  hypsodont  than  P.  riggsi. 

That  this  occurrence  seems  to  be  within  the  Entoptychus-Greg- 
orymys Concurrent-range  Zone  is  based  upon  the  presence  of  En- 
toptychus  as  well  as  the  association  with  what  may  be  Pleurolicus 
(McKenna  and  Love  1972:17-21).  Although  these  geomyoids 
are  not  contemporaneous  in  the  John  Day  Formation,  the  range  of 
Entoptychus  commences  immediately  above  the  range  of  Pleuro- 
licus (Fisher  and  Rensberger  1972:24). 

PHYLETIC  RELATIONSHIPS 
OF  THE  SPECIES 

The  greater  size  of  the  species  of  Promylagaulus  from  the 
Rocky  Mountains  and  the  fact  that  the  most  primitive  form,  P. 
riggsi,  is  the  smallest  suggests  that  the  group  may  have  origi- 
nated in  the  Great  Plains.  P.  ovatus,  the  youngest  known  form  in 
the  Plains,  was  only  slightly  larger  than  P.  riggsi  but  conspicu- 
ously advanced  in  hypsodonty.  The  species  occurring  farthest 
west,  P.  lemhiensis,  is  the  largest  but  is  only  slightly  more  hyp- 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


17 


sodont  than  P.  riggsi.  These  relationships  suggest  (Fig.  9)  that  an 
early  divergence  from  the  primitive  stock  may  have  dispersed 
westward  and  radiated  again  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region.  The 
amount  of  time  involved  in  this  dispersal,  diversification  and  evo- 
lution was  apparently  not  very  great,  judging  from  the  occur- 
rences of  both  P.  montanensis  and  P.  ovatus  in  the  Entopty- 
chus-Gregorymys  Concurrent-range  Zone,  probably  low  in  that 
zone,  and  P.  lemhiensis  in  deposits  not  much  older. 

RELATIONSHIPS  OF  PROMYLAGAULUS 

McGrew  (1941:26),  followed  by  subsequent  workers,  placed 
Promylagaulus  in  the  Mylagaulidae.  He  believed,  although  with 
a degree  of  uncertainty  regarding  several  characters,  that  Promy- 
lagaulus gave  rise  to  Mylagaulodon  and  therefore  to  later  myla- 
gaulids.  As  McGrew  noted,  the  upper  premolar  of  P.  riggsi 
displays  the  same  general  features  as  FMNH  P26266  and  is  in- 
termediate in  degree  of  hypsodonty  between  the  latter  and  Menis- 
comys  hippodus.  Wilson  (1960:54)  noted  an  apparent  difference 
in  the  number  of  lakes  in  the  molar  talonid  of  Promylagaulus  and 
Mesogaulus,  but  was  uncertain  as  to  whether  wear  in  the  speci- 
men of  Promylagaulus  accounted  for  the  discrepancy.  Other 
characters  in  the  worn  dentition  of  P.  riggsi  raise  at  least  some 
doubt  about  a relationship  to  the  mylagaulids.  The  better  repre- 
sented taxa,  P.  ovatus  and  P . lemhiensis,  unknown  at  the  time  of 
those  earlier  studies,  exhibit  features  which  differ  more  clearly 
from  those  of  the  mylagaulids. 

The  mesostyle  in  P4,  an  early  character  in  aplodontids  and 
which  in  P.  riggsi  can  be  interpreted  as  almost  worn  away,  is 
much  smaller  in  Promylagaulus  than  in  Mylagaulodon  (FMNH 
P26266).  The  posterolabial  fossette  of  P4  is  small  and  is  worn 
away  well  before  the  other  two  major  fossettes  disappear  in  P . 
ovatus,  whereas  in  the  mylagaulids  this  structure  is  as  persistent 
as  the  other  fossettes,  and  in  Mylagaulodon  is  large.  The  labial 
inflection  of  P4  is  undivided  in  P.  ovatus  and  P.  lemhiensis  but  is 
divided  in  both  Meniscomys  and  the  mylagaulids  (for  the  latter 
see  Black  and  Wood  1956,  Fig.  1).  The  posterolabial  fossettid  of 
the  lower  molars,  the  one  queried  by  Wilson,  is  absent  or  vesti- 
gial in  the  molars  of  Promylagaulus,  relatively  larger  in  Menis- 
comys, and  still  larger  in  Mesogaulus  (Wilson  1960,  Fig.  59)  and 
Mylagaulus  (McGrew  1941,  Fig.  12).  However,  the  posterolabial 
inflection  above  the  fossettid  is  formed  differently  in  Mesogaulus 
than  in  either  Meniscomys  or  Promylagaulus,  for  in  occlusal  view 
(Black  and  Wood  1956,  Figs.  8B,E)  the  channel  is  elongate,  ex- 
tends strongly  posterolinguad,  and  the  anterolabial  margin  of  the 
hypoconid  doesn’t  hook  toward  the  mesoconid  but  joins  the  base 
of  the  protoconid  to  close  the  fossettid.  In  both  Meniscomys  and 
Promylagaulus  the  posterolabial  fossettid  is  small  and  oval,  and 
is  formed  by  union  of  the  anterolabial  process  of  the  hypoconid 
with  the  mesoconid. 

One  of  the  distinctive  characters  of  Promylagaulus  is  the  pos- 
terolabial flattening  of  the  hypoconid  in  P4-M3.  The  hypoconid 
is  usually  rather  protuberant  posterolabially  in  Mesogaulus  (Wil- 
son 1960,  Figs.  56-59;  Black  and  Wood  1956,  Figs.  6,  8),  but  in 
the  unworn  pattern  of  the  molars  may  extend  anterolabiad  some- 
what as  in  Promylagaulus . 

On  the  other  hand,  Promylagaulus  shares  with  the  later  myla- 
gaulids reduction  of  the  labial  prominence  of  the  stylar  cusps  in 
the  upper  cheek  teeth  and  the  tendency  for  the  occlusal  outlines 
to  become  oval.  It  also  shares  relatively  large  P;J  and,  unlike  the 
aplodontines,  persistent  fossettids.  Although  the  reduction  of  sty- 
lar structures  may  have  occurred  independently,  these  events  may 


have  emerged  from  an  early  common  adaptive  trend  and  affinity. 

The  morphology  of  the  mylagaulids  and  Promylagaulus  seems 
therefore  to  suggest  that  the  mylagaulids  may  possibly  have 
evolved  from  a lineage  leading  eventually  to  Promylagaulus,  as 
opposed  to  others  going  toward  other  aplodontoids,  but  if  so,  the 
ancestral  form  for  Promylagaulus  and  the  mylagaulids  was  so 
primitive  that  the  posterolabial  inflection  of  the  lower  molars  was 
still  unclosed  — a stage  more  primitive  than  that  of  any  aplodon- 
tid  presently  known  from  the  Meniscomys  Concurrent-range 
Zone. 

Promylagaulus  may  represent  a progressive  group  that  was 
part  of  a rather  profuse  radiation  of  aplodontoid  rodents  in  the 
early  Miocene  just  prior  to  and  during  the  Meniscomys  Concur- 
rent-range Zone,  of  which  only  a few  groups,  not  Promylagaul- 
us, survived  into  the  middle  Miocene. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

I wish  to  thank  the  following  people  for  providing  access  to 
specimens  used  in  this  study:  Drs.  Lawrence  G.  Barnes,  Theo- 
dore Downs,  and  David  P.  Whistler,  LACM;  Drs.  Philip  E. 
Bjork  and  Morton  Green,  SDSM;  Dr.  William  D.  Turnbull, 
FMNH;  Dr.  Robert  W.  Fields  and  Mr.  Ralph  Nichols,  UM;  and 
Dr.  John  A.  White,  ISU.  I am  grateful  to  Drs.  Craig  C.  Black 
and  Mary  R.  Dawson  of  the  Carnegie  Museum,  Dr.  Donald  L. 
Rasmussen  of  the  Amoco  Production  Company,  and  Dr.  David 
P.  Whistler  of  the  LACM,  who  read  the  manuscript  and  offered 
suggestions  which  greatly  improved  it.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ben  Witte 
and  Mr.  David  Nunnallee  were  of  much  assistance  in  the  field 
work  that  produced  the  specimens  from  the  Deep  River  Forma- 
tion. This  study  was  supported  in  part  by  N.S.F.  Grant  GB 
35959. 

LITERATURE  CITED 

Black,  C.C.  and  A.E.  Wood  1956.  Variation  and  tooth  re- 
placement in  a Miocene  mylagaulid  rodent.  Jour.  Paleontol- 
ogy 30:672-684. 

Fisher,  R.V.  and  J.M.  Rensberger.  1972.  Physical  stratigraphy 
of  the  John  Day  Formation,  central  Oregon.  Univ.  Calif. 
Publ.  Geol.  Sci.,  101:45  p. 

Harksen,  J.C.  1970.  Geology  of  the  Sharps  Corner  quadrangle. 
In:  Macdonald,  J.R.,  1970.  Review  of  the  Miocene  Wound- 
ed Knee  faunas  of  southwestern  South  Dakota.  Los  Angeles 
County  Mus.  Nat.  Hist.  Bull.  8:82  p.,  2 maps. 
Macdonald,  J.R.  1963.  The  Miocene  faunas  from  the  Wounded 
Knee  area  of  western  South  Dakota.  Amer.  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
Bull.  125:141-238. 

. 1970.  Review  of  the  Miocene  Wounded  Knee  faunas 

of  southwestern  South  Dakota.  Los  Angeles  County  Mus. 
Nat.  Hist.  Bull.  8:82  p.,  2 maps. 

Macdonald,  L.  1972.  Monroe  Creek  (early  Miocene)  microfos- 
sils from  the  Wounded  Knee  area.  South  Dakota.  South  Da- 
kota Geol.  Surv.  Rept.  Investig.  105:43  p. 

McGrew,  P.O.  1941  The  Aplodontoidea.  Field  Mus.  Nat.  Hist. 
Geol.  Ser.  9:1-30. 

McKenna,  M.C.  and  J.D.  Love.  1972.  High-level  strata  contain- 
ing early  Miocene  mammals  on  the  Big  Horn  Mountains, 
Wyoming.  Amer.  Mus.  Novitates  2490:31  p. 

Nichols,  R.  1976.  Early  Miocene  mammals  from  the  Lemhi  Val- 
ley of  Idaho.  Tebiwa  18:9-47. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


18 


Rensberger:  Early  Miocene  Promylagaulus 


Rensberger,  J.M.  1971.  Entoptychine  pocket  gophers  (Mamma- 
lia, Geomyoidea)  of  the  early  Miocene  John  Day  Formation, 
Oregon.  Univ.  Calif.  Publ.  Geol.  Sci.  90:209  p. 

. 1975.  Haplomys  and  its  bearing  on  the  origin  of  the 

aplodontoid  rodents.  Jour.  Mammalogy  56:1-  14. 

. (manuscript).  Aplodontoid  rodents  of  the  John  Day 

Formation . 


Stirton,  R.A.  1935.  A review  of  the  Tertiary  beavers.  Univ. 

Calif.  Publ.  Bull.  Dept.  Geol.  Sci.  23:391-  457. 

Wilson,  R.W.  1960.  Early  Miocene  rodents  and  insectivores 
from  northeastern  Colorado.  Univ.  Kansas  Paleontological 
Contr.  Vertebrata  7:92  p. 

Accepted  for  publication  June  1,  1978. 


Contrib.  Sci.  Natur.  Hist.  Mus.  Los  Angeles  County.  1979.  312:1-18. 


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