Recent thecideide brachiopods (Thecideida, Thecideoidea) from northern Sulawesi (Indonesia) with discovery of a new Thecidellina species (Thecidellinidae).

Abstract

The scope of this paper concerns the species diversity of thecideide brachiopods living in the western Pacific equatorial region of Indonesia and the possibilities for circulation and dispersion of thecideide species along the coasts of Sulawesi and the Sea of Bali. The discovery of a new Thecidellina species, Thecidellina mawaliana sp. nov., adds a new genus to the Indonesian fauna. This species has a peculiar biogeography, different from those of Minutella cf. minuta (Cooper, 1981) and Ospreyella mutiara Simon Hoffman, 2013, other thecideides living together with the new species. Unfortunately, attempts to collect molecular sequence information from the specimens failed due to insufficient DNA preservation. Probable speciation mechanisms in this genus are discussed.