Microporella crenilabris ( REUSS , 1847)

ZÁGORŠEK, KAMIL, 2010, BRYOZOA FROM THE LANGHIAN (MIOCENE) OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC PART II: SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF THE SUBORDER ASCOPHORA LEVINSEN, 1909 AND PALEOECOLOGICAL RECONSTRUCTION OF THE STUDIED PALEOENVIRONMENT, Acta Musei Nationalis Pragae Series B 66 (3 - 4), pp. 139-255 : 139-255

Microporella crenilabris ( REUSS, 1847)

Pl. 115, Fig. 1-5

v. * 1847 Cellepora crenilabris m. – Reuss p. 88, Pl. 10, Fig. 22

?1847 Cellepora pleuropora m. – Reuss p. 88, Pl. 10, Fig. 21

v. 1874 Cellepora pleuropora REUSS,1847 – Reuss p. 153 Pl. 4, Fig. 12

1974 Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) – David and Pouyet p. 182, Pl. 7, Fig. 5. (cum syn.)

v. 1989 Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) – Schmid p. 49, Pl. 14, Fig. 4-7 (cum syn.)

?1999 Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) – Hayward and Ryland p. 296, Fig. 134C, D and 136

?2006 Microporella aff. ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) – Berning p. 105, Fig. 128-130

T y p e: The holotype from Eisenstadt is deposited in the Natural History Museum Vienna under the number 1867.40.177 (identified by David and Pouyet, 1974) .

M a t e r i a l: A common species, altogether more than 30 specimens were studied in detail. An additional 4 speci-

155 mens from the Reuss collection stored in the Natural History Museum Vienna under the number 1878.11.29 from sections at Podivín and Hlohovec (labelled as Lepralia microstoma ) and a specimen of Cellepora pleuropora (number 1878.11.19) from Eisenstadt figured by Reuss (1874) were included in our studies too.

D i a g n o s i s: Autozooeciahexagonal to oval, with a convex, porous frontal wall, clearly separated from each other. Aperture oval, slightly semilunar with 5-6 oral spines. Ascopore large, crescent-shaped, situated on the top of a small umbo. Avicularia single, lateral, with a short rostrum usually tapering laterally. Ovicell prominent, with a flat, porous frontal wall.

R e m a r k s: The type of Cellepora crenilabris REUSS, 1847 is completely identical with the studied material. David and Pouyet (1974) synonymised this species with Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) . Kuklinski and Taylor (2008) established a neotype of Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) , which differs from the studied material in having a more immersed ovicell, and less protruding avicularia.

David and Pouyet (1974) also listed in their synonymy Cellepora pleuropora REUSS, 1847 , but I could not find the types, only the specimen illustrated by Reuss (1874). Therefore I referred to the holotype of Cellepora crenilabris REUSS, 1847 to describe this Miocene species.

Berning (2006) argues, that recent Microporella ciliata ( PALLAS, 1766) differs from this Miocene species in producing ovicells which are wider than long. His figure 130 shows characters very similar to the Miocene specimens described here and may also belong to this species.

Kuklinski and Taylor (2008) suggested a thorough study of morphological variation within and between populations, coupled with molecular data to determine the true species characters and geographical distribution of this species – – a study which would be far beyond the scope of this paper. It seems, that Reuss’ species corresponds more with the morphological features of the Miocene material than to those of the recent taxon.