Photeros graminicola
Photeros graminocola is a bioluminescent species of cypridinid ostracod found in San Blas, Panama. At night, male P. graminocola ostracodes produce an elaborate species-specific display in order to attract females. These displays occur as a series of rapid flashes in an upward direction, above shallow grassbeds.
Valve shape: rather boxy oval, high, PostD margin sloped, but more steeply than AntD margin, with low rather curved projecting keel.
*Valve size: relatively smaller for genus, male L = 1.68 ± .08 [1.52-1.85] mm, Ht = 0.97 ± .07 [0.85-1.13] mm [N = 113], L:Ht = 1.74 ± 0.09 [1.53-1.86, N = 19]; female L = 1.88 ± .11 [1.62-2.25] mm, Ht = 1.17 ± .11 [1.00-1.42] mm [N = 74], L:Ht = 1.61 ± .08 [1.43- 1.81, N = 74]
Infold: *Rostral row with 19-33 [10 males] and 19-30 [4 females] setae plus 0-2 [males] and 0-1 [females] Ant and 4-12 setae Post to row; AntV row with 38-53 [4-5 along incisur, 14 males] and 38-51 [4 females] setae plus 0 [males] and 0-1 [female] seta Ant and 20-69 [10 males] and 34-64 [4 females] Post to row; LT V infold with about 3-8 and PostV infold with 0-3 setae.
Upper Lip: *Paired lateral field near mouth with about 2 nozzles (N = 2 males).
Male first antenna: Total small suckers on b- and c-setae = 18-20 [includes 4-5 on proximal c-seta, N = 2].
Second antenna: number of tooth-like spines on seta of 2nd exopodial article = 6-7 [N = 6].
Mandible: *D d-setae of 2nd article extending to 3rd article; *terminal article with fairly straight, distally bent claws, L of VMed claw about 95-96% that of DLat claw [N = 2]; tip of d-seta unlike that of b- and c-setae, attenuated to pointed thread-like tip with subterminal papilla, d-seta L about 80% that of D claw in males [N = 2], c-seta extends to about 70% L of VM claw [N = 1 male].
First maxilla (fourth limb): 1st article with 2 a- and 3 ß-setae. *2nd article: a1-, a2-, and a4-setae with pointed tips, a3-seta with thin tubular tip; number of setal and claw teeth.
Second maxilla (fifth limb): L of posterior-most seta of endite III about 2.5-3 3 L of smallest seta [*2nd Post seta = unringed, distally pectinate, without proximal hairs, N = 2]; inner corner of 5th article with group of small spines possibly on small process [N = 2].
Male eighth (copulatory) limb:
Outer lobe: *hood with or without very slight rounded central peak and thin weak rather rounded or triangular flap-like tip; 3 ringed, bare thumb setae at base of hood next to prominent long stout thumb-like sclerotized thumb; about 2 more proximal ringed, bare setae.
*Inner lobe: distal cleft area with small stout bare triangular tooth [on finger branch] and slightly thinner, bare claw of similar length [on setal branch, claw L = about 0.7% that of valve L] , about 7 ringed, bare setae.
Central lobe: stout, Post, with about 3 stout slightly ringed, spinous setae.
relatively smaller for genus, male L = 1.68 ± .08 [1.52-1.85] mm, Ht = 0.97 ± .07 [0.85-1.13] mm [N = 113], L:Ht = 1.74 ± 0.09 [1.53-1.86, N = 19]; female L = 1.88 ± .11 [1.62-2.25] mm, Ht = 1.17 ± .11 [1.00-1.42] mm [N = 74], L:Ht = 1.61 ± .08 [1.43- 1.81, N = 74]