Key character
Species with carapaces tapering anteriorly, lacking postero-dorsal spines, and typified by having an accessory gland opening on the side of the right asymmetrical gland.
The carapace shape of these two species is characteristic, but the diagonistic character - the lateral accessory gland, is difficult to see. The two species:
¥ Loricoecia loricata (Claus, 1894) (Loricoecia loricata, Loricoecia loricata 2) and
¥ Loricoecia ctenophora (Müller, 1906) (Loricoecia ctenophora, Loricoecia ctenophora 2) are often subdominants at mesopelagic depths. Loricoecia loricata has oblique striations in the anterior region of the carapace, whereas the larger species Loricoecia ctenophora is almost totally smooth. Loricoecia ctenophora is the type species for the genus.
A third Loricoecia species is
¥ Loricoecia acutimarginata (Loricoecia acutimarginata, Loricoecia acutimarginata 2, Loricoecia acutimarginata 3).
Species information:
Genus Loricoecia.pct