Batecypris reticularis Almeida-Lima, Guzmán, Maia, Jesus & Piovesan, 2024, sp. nov.

Batecypris reticularis sp. nov. (Fig. 4A–F; Fig. 5A) 1990 Hourqcia? sp. 1—Silva-Telles Jr. & Viana, pl. II, fig. 9–10. 2013 Ilyocypris? sp.—Do Carmo et al., p. 100, fig. 6.1–6.5. 2018 Ilyocypris? sp. 1—Do Carmo et al., p. 273, fig. 8.11. 2022 Gen et. sp. indet. 1—Guzmán et al., p. 16, fig. 9G–I. 2023 Gen et. sp. indet. 1—Guzmán et al., p. 27, fig. 7A–B. Zoobank-link: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: AFA51015-36DA-4961-BFFA-E354A7EF8C25 Holotype: LMA-00308, L: 0.89 mm, H: 0.55 mm, W: 0.37 mm (Fig. 4D–F). Paratype: LMA-00307, L: 0.89 mm, H: 0.56 mm, W: 0.34 mm (Fig. 4A–C). Material: Two carapaces. Derivation of name: Refers to the reticulated ornamentation of the carapace of this species. Type locality: Crato Formation, Santana Group, Araripe Basin, Ceará State, Brazil. Type horizon: Crato Formation, Santana Group, Araripe Basin, Brazil. 2-AR-SR-1A-CE well core samples, depth intervals 97.67–97.70 m and 107.59–107.62 m. Stratigraphic and geographic distribution: Aptian: Crato Formation, Santana Group, Araripe Basin, Ceará State, Brazil (Silva-Telles Jr. & Viana 1990; Guzmán et al. 2022, 2023 and this study). Mid-upper Aptian: Alagamar Formation, Potiguar Basin, Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil (Do Carmo et al. 2013). Diagnosis: A species with carapace sub-triangular in lateral view, fusiform in dorsal view and reticulated ornamentation. Description: Carapace sub-triangular in lateral view; fusiform in dorsal view. Ventral margin straight to slightly concave; dorsal margin showing a slight convexity along the hinge, inclined to the posterior that has a rounded and equicurvated margin; anterior margin broadly rounded. LV larger than RV, overlapping it in front of the mid-length at the dorsal region, where it shows a compression on the edge of the valves more prominent on LV, in the posterodorsal region the overlap is more subtle. Carapace surface reticulate, with shallow fossae varying from sub-hexagonal to rounded; at the dorsal region, close the valves border, this ornamentation may not be observed. Greater length at mid-height, greater height slightly anterior to mid-length and greater width at median region. Obtuse anterior and posterior cardinal angles. Sexual dimorphism and internal characters not observed. Remarks: In the samples analyzed, two morphotypes belonging to Batecypris reticularis sp. nov. were recovered, one with a node at the ventromedian region of each valve (Fig. 4A–C) and another morphotype without nodes (Fig. 4D–F). These morphotypes were also observed by Do Carmo et al. (2013: fig. 6.1–6.5, p. 100), however, despite observing these morphological differences, there was no discussion of the possible cause. Nodulation is a type of ornamentation that has already been discussed for fossil ostracods and attributed to ecophenotypic variations, generating this type of polymorphism within the same taxon (Almeida-Lima et al. 2022; Do Carmo et al. 1999; Guzzo & Coimbra 1989) and, because of this, is not a feature that should be considered to distinguish between species.