Taxonomic applications of the esophageal flapper valve in Bairdoppilata and Glyptobairdia (Bairdiidae, Ostracoda), with comments on anatomy, ontogeny, and geography Author Maddocks, Rosalie F. text Zootaxa 2022 2022-08-17 5175 3 301 342 journal article 124035 10.11646/zootaxa.5175.3.1 509d2bb8-bdff-4757-b45a-5d0cbccc31b4 1175-5326 7003585 44FB9C3D-3188-4BFB-BDB8-C1324729A396 Bairdoppilata sp. 2 [of Morais & Coimbra 2017 , Brazil ] ( Figures 15A–I , 16F–I ) 2017 Bairdoppilata sp. 2 : Morais & Coimbra, fig. 3E. Material Examined. Five specimens from Saco do Francisco, Brazil . Dimensions: Specimen 3991F, LVL 0.974 mm , LVH 0.672 mm . Specimen 3988F, RVL 0.91, RVH 0.509. Esophageal Valve: The plate is flat, broadly wedge-shaped, and furnished with about 14 evenly spaced triangular teeth ( Fig. 16G ). The scroll-like indentations on the anterior edges are well marked. The bracket consists of two curving triangular walls arranged in a V, with conspicuous tubercles along their anterior ends. The braces have thick shafts and rather short, blunt aprons ( Fig. 16H ). Anatomical Remarks: In lateral view the dorsal margin of the carapace arches to unusually great height, the posterior end is not caudate, and the surface is entirely smooth ( Figs. 15A–B, H ). The distal antennal claws are short, saber-like and sharply pointed, with the anterodistal claw being slightly thinner than the main claw ( Figs 15D–E ). The fused claw is smooth. The eye is unusually large and dark red ( Fig. 15A, F ). Taxonomic Remarks: Morais and Coimbra (2017) collected empty valves (interpreted as allochthonous) of B . sp. 2 in turf algae of rocky shores immediately below low tide ( 1–3m ) in Santa Catarina State , southern Brazil . They pointed out, correctly, that the taxonomic composition of phytal assemblages of rocky shores is poorly known, echoing similar comments by Maddocks (2013) . Then, they characterized Bairdoppilata as a “shelf genus, which lives mainly on sandy sediments,” and they expressed surprise at finding these valves captured by algal turf. This illustrates a familiar paleoecological dilemma: It is easy to equate the site of collection with the habitat in life, forgetting that most species are known only from subfossil valves collected in sea-floor sediments, after post-mortem transport and mixing by sedimentary and taphonomic processes.