Bryopesanser ecphymatotes, Tilbrook, Kevin J., 2012

Tilbrook, Kevin J., 2012, Review of the bryozoan genus Bryopesanser Tilbrook, 2006 (Escharinidae: Cheilostomata) with the description of 11 new species, Zootaxa 3165, pp. 39-63 : 53-55

Bryopesanser ecphymatotes n. sp.

( Figures 35–37 , Table 1)

Material. Holotype (here selected): NHMUK 1889.8.21.19, Tizard Reef, South China Sea. [Tizard Bank is a reef area in the northern part of the Spratly Group of islands, 10°15’51” N, 114°24’11” E.]

Description. Colony large, ca 15 mm 2 in area. Autozooids 0.60–0.80 x 0.50–0.60 mm, hexagonal or irregularly polygonal, distinct, separated by grooves. Frontal shield covered by small ‘pimples’, slightly convex, evenly perforated by numerous pores, with small areolar septular pores at each lateral and proximal angle. Primary orifice longer than wide, ca 0.10 x 0.09 mm excluding sinus, anter deeply arched, proximal border straight, condyles smooth, sinus drop-shaped, as wide as long. Oral spines 7, evenly spaced. Proximal peristome flared, not developed into a median mucro. Avicularia originating lateral to second pair of spines, rostra medium-sized, open-ended distally, crossbar complete, distomedially directed, mandibles fan-shaped. Ovicell hyperstomial, producing a thickened proximal edge, a raised frontal process lacking. Ovicellate zooids with 6 oral spines, the most distal pair incorporated into ovicell.

Etymology. Greek ecphymatos, eruption of pimples, alluding to the nature of the frontal shield sculpturing.

Remarks. Bryopesanser ecphymatotes n. sp. is characterised by the details of the primary orifice with its straight proximal border, smooth condyles, sinus as wide as long, and flared peristome. The ‘pimpled’ surface of the frontal shield is also characteristic, although not unique among the Bryopesanser species described herein; B. lobiones n. sp. also possesses a similar frontal-shield morphology but this species produces multiporous frontal pores and a peristomial mucro.

Bryopesanser ecphymatotes n. sp. differs from the other species described herein in the shape of its oral proximal border, more specifically in its smooth oral condyles, and the ‘pimpled’ frontal shield; it also produces a flared peristome but lacks both a peristomial mucro and frontal process on the ovicell.

Distribution. The species is known from a single specimen found in the South China Sea.

Figures

FIGURES 35 – 37, Bryopesanser ecphymatotes n. sp. Holotype specimen, NHMUK 1889.8. 21.19, South China Sea. Figures 38 – 40, Bryopesanser hebelomaia n. sp. Holotype specimen, NHMUK ex 1936.12.30.60 B, Sri Lanka. Scale bars: 35, 500 µm; 36, 200 µm; 37, 100 µm; 38, 100 µm; 39, 200 µm; 40, 100 µm.