Diagnosis |
Body: Elongate oval. Tegmentum color: Variable, may be orange, dark red, greyish brown, with or without large patches of black; Some brightly colored specimens have tail valves that are completely black. Sculpture: Radiating, often branching rows of large granules on the head valve (30-36 rows) and lateral areas (5-8), the rows usually not reaching the apex. Central areas: Fine, close-set lines of granules, the lines becoming larger and further apart towards the outer margins of the valves. Postmucronal area: Scarce, scattered granules. Mucro: Submedian in younger specimens; subterminal in full-grown specimens. Girdle: Rather narrow, evenly orange-brown or greyish brown; with spicules of varying types and sizes; a marginal fringe of straight spicules (290). Valves: Range from bright orange with black tail valve (and white spot) to ashy green with same markings (Ref. 296). |