Smittipora sawayai Marcus, 1937

Winston, Judith E. & Vieira, Leandro M., 2013, Systematics of interstitial encrusting bryozoans from southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 3710 (2), pp. 101-146 : 116

Smittipora sawayai Marcus, 1937

( Fig. 10 ; Table 8 )

Smittipora sawayai Marcus, 1937: 51 , pl. 10, figs 23A–B.

Material examined. Syntype: NHMUK 1948.2.16.65, Smittipora sawayai, E. Marcus det., São Paulo, Brazil. Additional material: MZUSP 684, specimen #13b, near BIOTA Stn 205, 15 m; MZUSP 699, #30 [6 colonies], Itassucê, São Sebastião, São Paulo, Brazil, 7 m; MZUSP 707, BIOTA Stn 205; MZUSP 714 ( Fig. 10 A–C), BIOTA Stn 211; MZUSP 722, measured specimen #1, BIOTA Stn 205; MZUSP 723 ( Fig. 10 D–E), measured specimen #3, BIOTA Stn 205; VMNH 70015, measured specimen #2, BIOTA Stn 211.

Supplementary video. http://cifonauta.cebimar.usp.br/taxon/smittipora-sawayai/

Description. Colonies encrusting, single-layered, calcification glassy white in color. Zooids oval to subhexagonal, about 0.38 mm long and 0.28 mm wide, with a trifoliate to bell-shaped opesia, about 0.14 long and 0.12 mm wide, with a curving proximal margin. Operculum hemispherical, about 0.06 mm in length and 0.08 mm in width, with a straight proximal margin. Frontal membrane underlain by a beaded cryptocyst, rising to narrow lateral walls, expanded proximally into one of more triangular to rounded tuberosities at the junctions of zooid walls. Rhombic interzooecial avicularia, about 0.30 mm long and 0.15 mm wide, with similar beaded cryptocyst and proximal tubercles, may occur between zooids; mandibles broad, with a median narrow rachis, thickly chitinized. Polypides translucent white with 11–12 tentacles and a lophophore diameter of 0.34 mm. Ovicell endozooidal, marked by a thickening of calcification at the distal end of the mural rim.

Remarks. This species is found on small subtidal shell fragments and pebbles. Against a white or transparent substratum, it is visible only by the golden color of the opercula and avicularian mandibles. This species is very similar to Floridina parvicella Canu & Bassler, 1923 found in the Floridan interstitial fauna (Winston & Håkansson 1986), but the Floridan species has an opesia smaller relative to zooid size. In addition, the lower margin of the opesia of F. parvicella is straighter, not as convexly curved, and in many zooids has a distinct central lip and an opening of the avicularian zooid more elongate.

Distribution. São Paulo state, Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 10. Smittipora sawayai Marcus, 1937: A, a shell fragment encrusted by Smittipora sawayai (bottom) and Ammatophora arenacea (top left) and polychaete tubeworms. B, zooid skeletons. C, close-up of two zooecia with a rhombic interzooidal avicularium between them. D, small colony with frontal membrane and chitinous structures intact. E, close-up of edge of colony showing a leaf-shaped avicularian mandible. Scale bars: A, 1 mm; B, 0.2 mm; C, E, 0.1 mm; D, 0.5 mm.

Tables

TABLE 8. Measurements (in mm) of Smittipora sawayai Marcus, 1937.

	Lz	Wz	Lop	Wop	Lov	Wov
N	18	18	18	18	8	8
Mean	0.469	0.262	0.223	0.140	0.146	0.263
SD	0.056	0.025	0.292	0.018	0.018	0.033
Min	0.360	0.198	0.108	0.108	0.126	0.216
Max	0.576	0.306	1.386	0.162	0.180	0.306