New Brachiopoda from the Indian Ocean

Abstract

The collections described in this paper add significantly to the brachiopod fauna. Most of the specimens were collected on the following cruises of the Woods Hole Oceanographic research vessel <i>Anton Bruun</i> while participating in the biological program of the International Indian Ocean Expedition: Cruise 1, east side of the Indian Ocean and Andaman Sea; Cruise 4B, off the Gulf of Cutch in the Arabian Sea; Cruises 7 and 8, in the Mozambique Channel and off the east coast of Africa; and Cruise 9, off the east coast of the Somali Republic. Of the fifteen species in the <i>Anton Bruun</i> collection, nine are described as new. Three of the new species represent new genera. In addition to these a fourth new genus is based on <i>Rhynchonella valdiviae</i> Helmcke from the southern Indian Ocean, and a rare new species of <i>Argyrotheca</i> is described from the Red Sea. Species described but poorly figured by W. H. Dall also are discussed and illustrated in this paper. Available pertinent geographical and ecological data are recorded and discussed. Although Mediterranean and Atlantic brachiopod elements have been known from the Indian Ocean, the <i>Anton Bruun</i> collections produced two genera hitherto found only in Pacific waters.