Bairdoppilata floreana, Maddocks, 2025

Bairdoppilata floreana , sp. nov.

(Graphs 4, 6; Figures 2I–J View FIGURE 2 ; 17A–N View FIGURE 17 ; 18A–Q View FIGURE 18 ; 19A–T View FIGURE 19 ; 20A–P View FIGURE 20 ; 21A–N View FIGURE 21 ; 32L–N View FIGURE 32 ; 33L–O View FIGURE 33 )

1974 Bairdoppilata sp. —Maddocks, p. 209 (part), Pl. 2, figs. 4–7, 18).

Material Studied: 60 specimens.

Derivation of Name: Loosely based on the Latin adjective floreus, -a, -um, flowery; for the Flower Gardens.

Types: Holotype specimen 4223Car, USNM 1751296 . Paratype specimens 990Car, USNM 1751297 ; 4224Car, USNM 1751298 ; 4227Car, USNM 175199 ; illustrated specimens USNM 1751300–1751310 .

Type Locality: Flower Gardens, UH 1613, East Flower Garden Bank, Gulf of Mexico. 27 o 55’N, 93 o 36’W. Recent sand, water depth 70 feet GoogleMaps .

Occurrence: Flower Gardens, Gyre st. 7.

Dimensions: Holotype specimen 4223Car, LV L 0.860mm, LV H 0.508 mm, RV L 0.865 mm, RV H 0.450 mm . Paratype specimen 900Car, LV L 0.926 mm, LV H 0.532 mm, RV L 0.932 mm, RV H 0.477 mm . Paratype specimen 4224Car, L 0.973 mm, W 0.427 mm. Paratype specimen 4227Car, L 0.857 mm, W 0.366 mm. See also Graph 4.

Diagnosis: Carapace streamlined, relatively long, low, and thin, with prolonged caudal process; oblong central opaque patch but no dorsal, anterior or posterior spots.

Description: Carapace high-arched, slightly asymmetrical, with substantial dorsal overreach and level to slightly convex ventral margin; caudal process prolonged, low-set, slightly swollen but not ridged; anterodorsal corner not swollen ( Figures 17A–G View FIGURE 17 ; 19A, F, H–I, Q–T View FIGURE 19 ; 21J–L View FIGURE 21 ). Dorsal outline elongate, diamond-shaped with curved margins, tapering anterior end and more produced posterior end ( Figures 19C–D, J–K View FIGURE 19 ; 21C View FIGURE 21 ).

Opaque patch pattern in both valves consists of dark central streak, tapering above and below, not quite reaching ventral or dorsal margin; no discrete dorsal spots, no anterior and posterior spots ( Figure 17A–G View FIGURE 17 ).

Hinge with fine, sharp-edged ligamental striation on both valves, accommodation groove on LV; supplemental dentition present, but RV denticles difficult to discriminate from granular valve edge, and LV locules shallow and narrow ( Figures 19G View FIGURE 19 ; 20A–I, L–M View FIGURE 20 ; 21G–I View FIGURE 21 ). Duplicature wide, vestibules moderately deep ( Figures 17A–L View FIGURE 17 ; 20A–C, J–L View FIGURE 20 ). LV anteroventral margin smooth or with wide frill, posteroventral margin smooth or with row of small spines; RV anteroventral margin smooth or with wide frill; posteroventral margin smooth or with row of nodular spines ( Figures 17H–L View FIGURE 17 ; 19H–I View FIGURE 19 ; 20A–D, G, J–L View FIGURE 20 ; 21B, D, J–L View FIGURE 21 ).

Surface punctation and honeycomb structure clearly expressed in juveniles ( Figure 18F, M View FIGURE 18 ). Juvenile A–1 LV anteroventral margin with frill, posteroventral margin with 12 tiny spines; RV anteroventral margin with remnants of frill, posteroventral margin with narrow frill ( Figure 18A–B, F–G, K–L, N–O View FIGURE 18 ). Juvenile A–2 LV anteroventral margin with frill, posteroventral margin with 10 sharp spines; RV anteroventral margin with frill, posteroventral margin with needle-shaped spines ( Figure 18C–D, H–I View FIGURE 18 ). Juvenile A–3 RV anteroventral margin has a frill; posteroventral margin has a row of 8 conical spines ( Figure 18E, J View FIGURE 18 ).

Remarks: The reduced opaque patch pattern, sinuous outlines, and low-set, prolonged caudal process separate this species from others of the Ba. fithianae group.

One damaged fragment of A2 shows a rather short distal claw and the socket where an enlarged anterodistal claw was formerly inserted ( Figure 20N View FIGURE 20 ). The posterior margin of the plate of the esophageal valve has a regular row of about 14 small, rounded teeth, with the end teeth set apart from the others by a gap ( Figure 20O–P View FIGURE 20 ). Both of these attributes are characteristic for the Genus Bairdoppilata ( Maddocks 2018, 2022). The remaining body parts are fragmentary and insufficient for identification of the species.

Maddocks (1974, p. 209) identified Bairdoppilata sp. from the West Flower Garden, but specimens of Ba. collaevata , Ba. diatreta , and Ba. fithianae were also included in that material. The illustrations show Ba. floreana . The comment that “it is also living on the Bermuda platform” applies only to Ba. fithianae .