Photeros shulmanae
Photeros shulmanae is a bioluminescent species of cypridinid ostracod found in San Blas, Panama. At night, male P. shulmanae ostracods produce an elaborate species-specific display in order to attract females. These displays occur as a series of rapid flashes in an upward direction, on reef walls.
Valve shape: Rather boxy oval, high with PostD curved corner, males with low rather pointed projecting keel.
Valve size: Relatively larger for genus, male L = 1.79-2.01 mm, Ht = 1.14-1.28 mm [N = 131], L:Ht = 1.52-1.65 [N = 131]; female L = 2.33-2.55 mm, Ht = 1.63-1.70 mm, L:Ht = 1.39-1.50 [N = 4].
Infold: *Rostral row with 20-31 [10 males] and 24-33 [4 females] setae plus 0-1 [males] and 0-2 [females] Ant and 1-6 setae Post to row; AntV row with 32-43 [3-4 along incisur, 10 males] and 35-43 [4-6 along incisur, 4 females] setae plus 0-1 [males] setae Ant and 0-4 [10 males] and 0-17 [4 females] Post to row; LT V infold with about 7 and PostV infold with 0-2 setae.
Upper Lip: *Paired lateral field near mouth with about 17 nozzles (2 males).
First antenna: Total small suckers on b- and c- setae = 17-20 [includes 4 on proximal c-seta, N = 3].
Second antenna: Number of tooth-like spines on seta of 2nd exopodial article = 5-6 [5.6 ± 0.5, N = 16].
Mandible: *D d-seta of 2nd article not extending to 3rd article; terminal article with slightly and evenly curved D claw, V claws strongly curved [distal half bent], L of VMed claw about 90% that of DLat claw [N = 1], tip of d-seta similar to that of b- and c-setae, tapered to narrow tube-tip, c-seta extends to about 80% L of VMed claw in males [N = 1 male], d-seta L about 65% that of D claw L in males.
First maxilla (fourth limb): 1st article with 2 a- and 3 ß-setae. 2nd article: *all a- setae with pointed tips; number of setal and claw teeth.
Second maxilla (fifth limb): L of posterior-most seta of endite III about 1.6 x L of smallest seta [*2nd Post seta = unringed, distally pectinate, with proximal long hairs, N = 1]; 5th article with small terminal process bearing small spines [N = 1].
Seventh Limb: total setae in males = 11-13 [includes 1-4 terminal peg setae] [N = 4].
Male eighth (copulatory) limb:
Outer lobe: *hood with small to medium-sized stout, rather triangular lobe-like central peak and thin weak rather triangular flap-like tip; 3 ringed, bare thumb setae at base of hood next to prominent long stout thumb- like sclerotized thumb; 2-3 more proximal ringed, bare setae.
*Inner lobe: Distal cleft area with small bare triangular tooth [on finger branch] and much longer, more slender slightly curved or basally bent bare claw [on setal branch, claw L = 1.2-1.4% that of valve L], 6-8 ringed, bare setae.
Central lobe: stout, Post, with 3 or 4 stout slightly ringed, spinous setae.
Relatively larger for genus, male L = 1.79-2.01 mm, Ht = 1.14-1.28 mm [N = 131], L:Ht = 1.52-1.65 [N = 131]; female L = 2.33-2.55 mm, Ht = 1.63-1.70 mm, L:Ht = 1.39-1.50 [N = 4].