Sexual dimorphism and left-right asymmetry of carapace ornamentation in Hemicytheria setosa RUNDIĆ 2002

In biostratigraphic research of the Upper Miocene of Pannonian basin system, one of the frequently detected and important ostracod genera is Hemicytheria POKORNÝ (1955). Among more than 20 species of this genus, Hemicytheria setosa is present in sandy facies of the Lake Pannon sediments in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aims of this study were to describe sexual dimorphism and differences between left and right valve morphology in Hemicytheria setosa. Landmark based geometric morphometrics is applied on the grounds of existence of the homologue pattern of the fossae and pore conuli on the valve surface of this group of ostracods. Significant differences between sexes and between left and right valves are detected in the present study. The obtained results indicate that applied methods and chosen landmarks could be useful in the studies of valve ornamentation-variation in fossil and recent Ostracoda.