Claus, 1891
Description
This member of the curta group is extremely similar in appearance to C. curta [Conchoecia curta]. It is best distinguished by the posterior margin of the carapace being more arcuate [C.echinulata-fem-lat]; the carapace sculpture having indistinct cross striae between the main concentric pattern; the right asymmetrical gland opening about a third the way up the posterior margin (an extremely difficult character to see under low power); the frontal organ being short in both sexes and club-ended in females [C.echinulata-1; C.echinulata-3]; the "e" seta armature on the male first antenna consisting of 5-8 pegs [C.echinulata-4] and the outer margin of the right hook appendage being somewhat flattened [C.echinulata-5], and the copulatory appendage is exceptionally large.
Size
Female 0.75-0.8 mm, male 0.78-0.8 mm carapace length.
Depth range
Shallow mesopelagic.
Distribution in the North Sea
No information available.
World distribution
Recorded from the Atlantic and Indian Oceans; 60°N-37°S in the Atlantic.
Remark
According to recent taxonomic revision, the species echinulata is placed in the genus Mikroconchoecia (M.V. Angel, pers. com.). However, for technical reasons the former generic name Conchoecia had to be maintained in the multimedia files.
[After Angel, 2000]