Microporella protea Winston, 2005

Judith L Winston, 2016, Bryozoa of Floridan Oculina reefs, Zootaxa 4071 (1), pp. 1-81 : 56

Microporella protea Winston, 2005

( Fig. 31 ; Table 30 )

Porellina ciliata : Smitt 1873: 26, pl. 6, figs 128–129.

? Microporella ciliata personata: Osburn 1947: 36 .

Microporella ciliata: Long & Rucker 1970: 20 , fig. 4:3.

Microporella protea Winston, 2005: 78 , figs 211–213, 215, 217–223.

Material examined. VMNH no. 70644, 70645; USNM no. 1283255.

Description. Colony unilaminar to multilaminar, encrusting ( Fig. 31 A). Zooids irregularly rhomboidal ( Fig. 31 B, D), with bumpy granular frontal shields penetrated by irregularly shaped pores of various sizes, which become increasingly obscured as secondary calcification increases. Zooidal boundaries delimited by sinuous or scalloped shallow grooves at junctions of intercalary cuticles of adjacent zooids. Primary orifice roundly semicircular, high-arched, with weakly concave proximal rim that may appear beaded as secondary calcification develops. Bases of 3–5 (usually 4) hollow spines on distal rim of orifice ( Fig. 31 E, F). Ascopore crescentic, denticulate, located just proximal to orifice, surrounded by slightly raised collar. Avicularium single, large, broad distolaterally directed, with complete crossbar and triangular mandible, proximolateral to orifice on one side, subjacent to ascopore at about zooidal mid-length ( Fig. 31 B). Ooecia ( Fig. 31 D) globose, with same thick, granular to pustulose porous calcification as frontal shields, their rims slightly ribbed.

Remarks. Use of SEM has led to the discrimination of new species of Microporella based on ultrastructural differences in the number and nature of orificial spines, shape of orifice, presence of condyles, nature of proximal edge of orifice (smooth, serrated, beaded, etc.), morphology and position of ascopore, size, shape and position of avicularia, calcification of frontal shield, and form of ooecia. Microporella protea is only one of several species that occur along the Floridan coast.

Distribution. Cape Hatteras to Florida. Caribbean?

Figures

FIGURE 31. Microporella protea Winston, 2005: A, portion of a mature colony; B, autozooids; C, single autozooid, showing position of orificial spines, avicularium and ascopore; D, group of zooids with ooecia; E, an orifice with five spines; F, an orifice with four spines. Scale bars: A, D, 0.2 mm; B, C, 0.1 mm; E, F, 0.02 mm.

Tables

TABLE 30. Measurements in mm of Microporella protea Winston, 2005.

	Lz	Wz	Lo	Wo	Lov	Wov	Lav	Wav
N	18	18	18	18	18	18	18	18
Mean	0.743	0.572	0.107	0.128	0.282	0.337	0.141	0.088
SD	0.064	0.063	0.013	0.017	0.024	0.029	0.022	0.007
Min	0.630	0.486	0.090	0.090	0.252	0.270	0.108	0.072
Max	0.864	0.684	0.126	0.162	0.342	0.378	0.180	0.099