Planktonetta atlantica

(Borgert)

Diagnosis: Shell delicate, bladder-like, generally ovoid, or pear-shaped to spherical. Surface with small, fine thorns, which sometimes have small basal discs. Central capsule lines inner shell. Spherical float about same size as shell attached to one side. Wide oval opening with stout collar-like structure. Four pairs of distally ramified (2-4 irregularly forked terminal branches) oral legs at periphery, surrounding oral opening, 1-3 times as long as shell, with short, perpendicular lateral spines along length, extending into tufts of anchor barbs. Fibrous diaphragm of central capsule between mouth and shell body. Skeletal meshwork across oral opening, connecting float to shell and supporting phaeodium.

Length: 1.2-1.7 mm.

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