A note on Dallina septigera (Lovén), (Brachiopoda, Dallinidae)

Abstract

The discovery of a homoeomorph, Fallax dalliniformis, of Dallina septigera (Lovén) dredged with that species (Atkins, 1960) and, it is believed, sometimes confused with it, certainly by Fischer & Oehlert (1891), has made a brief redescription desirable. During the present work more than a hundred D. septigera of shell length 5–31 mm have been obtained, and most of them examined internally.The original description in Latin—without figures—of Dallina septigera (= Terebratula septigera) was by Lovén in 1846 (p. 183). Unfortunately his description does not now clearly separate his species from Fallax dalliniformis, except perhaps his failure to mention the presence of dental plates, pedicle collar and spiculation. It is doubtful how much weight can be attached to this, for on the same page he failed to mention the presence of dental plates in Macandrevia cranium. He gave the length as 28 mm, width as 21.5 mm and depth as 17 mm.