Key character
Large species (ca. 3 mm) with clear oblique striations with ventral edge either parallel to the dorsal or the maximum height near the middle.
The species in the Genus Mollicia are deep mesopelagic to bathypelagic.
¥ Mollicia tyloda (Müller, 1906) (Mollicia tyloda, Mollicia tyloda 2) is uniquely characterised by its sculpturing pattern with a deeply incised striation cutting across many of the obliques striae.
¥ Mollicia kampta (Müller, 1906) (Mollicia kampta, Mollicia kampta 2, Mollicia kampta 3) is the smallest of the species and the female can be distinguished by the rather straight oblique ventral edge of the carapace immediately anterior to the opening of the right symmetrical gland, and towards the end of the b seta of the male antennule is a small bulging pad.
¥ Mollicia mollis (Müller, 1906) (Mollicia mollis, Mollicia mollis 2) is slightly larger and the b seta on the male antennule is bare, whereas in both the other two species it carries long hairs. The e seta of the female antennule has quite long spinules along its leading edge.
¥ Mollicia amblypostha (Müller, 1906) (Mollicia amblypostha, Mollicia amblypostha 2, Mollicia amblypostha 3) has a very differently shaped hook appendage and shares with M. kampta the characteristic of having a square end to the copulatory appendage, which is rounded in the other species.
¥ Mollicia eltaninae (Deevey, 1978) (Mollicia eltaninae, Mollicia eltaninae 2) has been rather arbitrarily placed in this genus. This large abyssopelagic species lacks the striations typical of the rest of the species, and the capitulum of the female frontal organ is not clearly differentiated from the stem. The anterior margin of the carapace distinguishes this species from others with which it co-occurs.
Species information:
Genus Mollicia.pct