Description of two new species of ostracods from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean)

More than 100 years after the studies of G. Seguenza, sediment samples from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean) were examined in order to study their ostracod faunas. Two new species, Anchistrocheles seguenzai n. sp. and Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp., were found, both in thanatocoenoses from the Bathyal zone, at a depth of 545 m. Anchistrocheles seguenzai n. sp. is distinguishable from A. tenera (Breman, 1975), the only living species of the genus in Recent Mediterranean, and from the other species of the genus because of the more reniform-subquadrangular outline of its carapace and the different height/length ratio values. In the same way, Phlyctocythere sicula n. sp. can be distinguished from P. pellucida (Müller, 1894) the only living species of the genus in Recent Mediterranean, because of its more rounded outline, less marked caudal process which is more obtuse and more shifted to the median side of the posterior end, the inflated postero-ventral area, the more acute anterior margin and the narrower marginal zone and vestibula. The stratigraphic and geographic distribution of some species of both genera is indicated.