Nectofocales baldwina
- Kingdom
- Microsynthera
- Phylum
- Plasticae
- Class
- Occlupanida
- Order
- Kirigami
- Family
- Kamptoconidae
- Genus
- Nectofocales
- Species
- baldwina
- External morphology
Dorsally protruding tubercles and various fenestra. Size 32 mm X 24 mm
This outstanding specimen was discovered in 2016 by amateur occlupanologist A. Baldwin, first in Takayama, and again in Kyoto. Both times the specimen was found wrapped tightly around a bag of edible allium bulbs. Unlike any occlupanid known to science, N. baldwina can curl itself up into a tightly wrapped conical collar. This specimen helped spark a total revision in synthetic taxonomy, provoking the formation of a new species, genus, family and order to contain it. While the protruding tubercles and the enlargened asymmetric arms serve to firmly anchor the occlupanid’s arms during its ‘collar’ stage, the additional lateral fenestra are a mystery. Hopefully more specimens can be found in the future.