identifier	taxonID	type	CVterm	format	language	title	description	additionalInformationURL	UsageTerms	rights	Owner	contributor	creator	bibliographicCitation
03D38903403B0526CCBBFA6974D9F85F.text	03D38903403B0526CCBBFA6974D9F85F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Genus  Scutoplites n. gen.</p><p>Type species.  Scrupocellaria marsupiata Jullien, 1882</p><p>Etymology. Name compound of ‘scutum’, alluding to the characteristic scutum covering the frontal membrane like a well-fitting lid, and ‘  Notoplites ’, a very similar genus in which several of the species discussed here were included until now. Gender masculine.</p><p>Diagnosis. Colony erect, dichotomously branching, anchored to the substrate by rhizoids that descend along the main axis. Branches articulated, biseriate, with alternating autozooids. Branching pattern type 15 (Harmer 1923). Autozooids elongate, narrower proximally, with an oval frontal membrane placed distally. Inarticulate spines usually present on the distal margin of autozooids. A flabelliform scutum covering the frontal membrane like a well-fitting lid, the proximolateral edge merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst, scutum margin here straight or fimbriated. Distal opercular area restricted by the arcuate opesial margin, its proximal edge defined by the straight distal part of the scutum. Operculum thickly sclerotised. Avicularia of two types: a small one, sessile, present distolaterally, in the form of a triangular prominence on the side of the autozooid, not always seen in frontal view, with the triangular mandible pointing outwards; a small frontal avicularium located just proximal to the scutum, situated on a small prominence and provided with a triangular mandible directed proximally. Ovicell hyperstomial, large, prominent, not closed by the operculum, with a small frontal fenestra in the ectooecium. Ancestrula not known.</p><p>Remarks. Several of the species of  Scutoplites n. gen. discussed here, including the type species, were until now classified in the genus  Notoplites . The main characters that differentiate  Scutoplites from  Notoplites species are: the well-developed scutum that covers the frontal membrane like a well-fitting lid, with the proximal and outer-lateral margins merged with the opesial rim, leaving the operculum uncovered. This character is apparently absent in  Notoplites species. In most of the species the scutum is distinctly smaller and of variable shape, exposing a relatively large area of the frontal membrane, whereby it may even be absent in other species. Secondly, in the  Scutoplites species the scutum has a fimbriated edge, with branches separated by a variable number (6–27) of more or less narrow fissures of variable length. Thirdly, all the species in  Scutoplites have a small, sessile avicularium in the distolateral corner of each autozooid, which may not always be visible in frontal view, as well as a small frontal avicularium located just proximal to the scutum in many of the autozooids. In contrast, according to the original description (Harmer 1923), in  Notoplites frontal and marginal avicularia may be present or absent and additional basal avicularia, approaching a vibraculoid form, are typically present and usually confined to the neighbourhood of the axil. Jullien (1882) mentioned a single basal (i.e. abfrontal) vibraculum behind the lateral avicularium in  Scrupocellaria marsupiata, but this was not observed in the redescription of the species (Souto et al. 2011). Similarly, Busk (1884) mentioned a minute avicularium as being positioned in the distal abfrontal autozooid in  Menipea clausa Busk, 1884, and R. Kirkpatrick (in Waters 1888) also noted the presence of vibracula in several autozooids, but again these were not found during the redescription of the species (Souto et al. 2011). Perhaps these authors incorrectly interpreted the lateral avicularium, which in this species is displaced basally, as a basal vibraculum. The only northern Atlantic  Notoplites species with an unequivocal abfrontal avicularium seems to be  Notoplites bilobus (Busk, 1884) from the Azores (see Berning &amp; Spencer Jones 2023). None of the species we here assign to  Scutoplites were observed to form an abfrontal/basal avicularium.</p><p>In addition to the type species,  Scutoplites n. gen. includes the following species:  M. clausa,  Notoplites saojorgensis Berning, 2013,  Notoplites reverteri Souto, 2019,  Scutoplites hamartia sp. nov.,  Scutoplites virgulus sp. nov.,  Scutoplites azorensis sp. nov.,  Scutoplites burocraticus sp. nov. and  Scutoplites batmani sp. nov.</p><p>Key to the species of  Scutoplites n. gen.</p><p>1 Semielliptical scutum with fissures arranged obliquely towards the proximal external side (Fig. 10)............................................................................................  S. batmani sp. nov. (3730–4960 m)</p><p>- Scutum diversely shaped, with radial fissures............................................................... 2</p><p>2 Six stout, pointed, distal spikes. Scutum with many digital branch prolongations with wide slit-like indentations between them. Frontal avicularium present only in the median autozooid in the branching point (Fig. 4).....  S. reverteri n. comb. (1067 m)</p><p>- Fewer distal spines or absent. Scutum diversely shaped. Frontal avicularium frequent............................... 3</p><p>3 Lateral avicularia large, prominent, with mandible directed outwards............................................ 4</p><p>- Lateral avicularia small, sometimes not visible in frontal view, with mandible directed proximally and outwards......... 5</p><p>4 Autozooids small (0.527 x 0.263). Scutum and operculum roughly as long as wide; two outer spines, plus one on the base of the scutum, inconstant; ovicell almost twice as long as wide (Fig. 1)..................  S. marsupiatus n. comb. (2018 m)</p><p>- Autozooids large (0.923 x 0.331). Scutum and operculum wider than long; one spine on the base of the scutum, inconstant, plus another one in the distal outer angle, frequently missing; ovicell only slightly longer than wide, with a small triangular frontal fenestra (Fig. 3).......................................................  S. saojorgensis n. comb. (830–1280 m)</p><p>5 Few radial fissures in the scutum (6–13)................................................................... 6</p><p>- Many radial fissures in the scutum (16–27)................................................................ 8</p><p>6 Branches with an evident zigzag outline; radial fissures all around the scutum (Fig. 9).....  S. burocraticus sp. nov. (2757 m)</p><p>- Branches straight; radial fissures absent on the inner side of the scutum.......................................... 7</p><p>7 Scutum clearly longer than wide, with shorter fissures; up to three outer distal spines; lateral avicularia not visible in frontal view (Fig. 2)............................................................  S. clausus n. comb. (1940–3063 m)</p><p>- Scutum slightly longer than wide, with longer fissures; one single outer distal spine, inconstant; lateral avicularia hardly visible in frontal view (Figs 6, 7)...................................................  S. virgulus sp. nov. (3730–4270 m)</p><p>8 Two or three stout outer spines; fewer (16–21) and shorter fissures leaving a wide central imperforate area in the scutum (Fig. 8).........................................................................  S. azorensis sp. nov. (1230 m)</p><p>- One stout outer spine; more (21–27) and longer fissures, long fissures generally alternate with short ones (Fig. 5).................................................................................  S. hamartia sp. nov. (1200–1810 m)</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D38903403B0526CCBBFA6974D9F85F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D3890340390520CCBBFF347536FEFF.text	03D3890340390520CCBBFF347536FEFF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites marsupiatus (Jullien 1882) Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites marsupiatus (Jullien, 1882) n. comb.</p><p>(Fig. 1)</p><p>Scrupocellaria marsupiata Jullien, 1882: 10, pl. 13, figs 17–20; 1883: 506, pl. 13, figs 17–20; Calvet 1907: 377.</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: Harmer 1923: 351. [=  S. clausus n. comb., see below].</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: Calvet 1931: 69. [=  S. saojorgensis n. comb., see Berning 2013 and below].</p><p>Not  Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1973: 1212. [=  S. clausus n. comb., see below].</p><p>Not  Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1974: 3, part or whole. [=  N. jeffreysii, see Souto et al. 2011].</p><p>Not  Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1975: 556, part or whole. [=  S. hamartia sp. nov.,  S. virgulus sp. nov. and unknown, see below].</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt 1985: 41. [=  S. batmani sp. nov., see below].</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985: 913. [=  S. batmani sp. nov. and  S. virgulus sp. nov. ?, see below].</p><p>?  Notoplites marsupiata [sic]: Hayward 1978: 211.</p><p>Notoplites marsupiatus: Souto et al. 2011: 36, figs 12–15.</p><p>Material examined.  MNHN-IB-2008-2817 (lectotype, Fig. 1),  MNHN-IB-2008-1042 (paralectotype), and  MNHN-IB-2008-2819 (a small fragment): Travailleur 1881, D. 1, 43º00’40’’N, 09º37’00’’W (corrected following Ryland 1969: 238), 2018 m, 10 Jun. 1881 (see Souto et al. 2011) . Other material examined:  MNHN-IB-2008-7505: Biaçores stn. 120, 39º03.5’N, 32º43.5’W, 2100 m, a single small and poorly preserved base of a colony, in ethanol;  MNHN-IB-2008-7530: Biaçores stn. 165, 37º33’N, 25º58’W, 2050–2085 m, a tiny colony fragment in ethanol;  MNHN-IB-2008-7545: Biaçores stn. 195, 37º56’N, 24º49.5’W, 1700–1776 m, a few poorly preserved zooids in ethanol;  MNHN-IB-2008-7595: Biaçores stn. 249, 45º50’N, 17º32’W, 4620–4690 m, a poorly preserved colony base with few zooids, in ethanol . All samples identified by d’Hondt (1975) as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata .</p><p>Remarks. As already stated above, Jullien (1882) described  Scrupocellaria marsupiata for several fragments collected at 2018 m depth off the northwestern Iberian Peninsula. According to the redescription by Souto et al. (2011, as  N. marsupiatus), the species is characterized by small autozooids (about 0.5 mm long), a scutum that is nearly as long as wide and with a stout spine distal to its base and about 15 radial fissures, a large lateral avicularium, an orifice that is as long as wide, and a very elongated ovicell.</p><p>The fact that  Menipea clausa was soon considered a synonym of  Scrupocellaria marsupiata (see Jullien 1888; Waters 1888; Calvet 1907; Harmer 1923; Prenant &amp; Bobin 1966) meant that this species remained the only species having a flabelliform scutum with a fimbriated edge. This was the reason why later authors used this name for any species with a similar scutum collected in the North Atlantic. However, specimens assigned to the nominal species reported subsequent to the original description do not actually belong to  Scrupocellaria marsupiata . Firstly, Souto et al. (2011) already demonstrated that  M. clausa is a different species and transferred it to the genus  Notoplites (see also below). Harmer (1923, as  N. marsupiatus) was actually referring to the type material of  M. clausa . The record from the Azores by Calvet (1931) as  N. marsupiatus proved to be a new species,  N. saojorgensis (cf. Berning 2013) (see also below). Another record from the Azores made by d’Hondt (1973) as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata really corresponds to  Scutoplites clausus n. comb. after revision of the original sample (MNHN-IB-2008-6744) (see below). D’Hondt (1974) reported  Scrupocellaria marsupiata from four stations off the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, but reference material actually corresponds to  N. jeffreysii (Norman, 1868) according to Souto et al. (2011). D’Hondt (1975) then reported  Scrupocellaria marsupiata from nine stations in the Azores and adjacent waters. However, material from Biaçores stations 54A and 64 belongs to  Scutoplites hamartia sp. nov. (see below), and material from station 245 to  Scutoplites virgulus sp. nov. (see below). The specimens from stations 120, 165, 195 and 249 (MNHN-IB-2008-7505, 7530, 7545 and 7595, see ‘Other material examined’ above) is so poorly preserved that it is not possible to identify it to species level, and, finally, no material seems to exist from stations 126 and 159, so it is not possible to elucidate which species these specimens may belong to. In fact, Berning (2013) already pointed out the possibility that several species were combined under the name  Scrupocellaria marsupiata in the work by d’Hondt (1975). The species was reported again by Hayward (1978, as  N. marsupiata [sic]) at 1980 m depth north of the Iberian Peninsula and at 1550 m in the northwestern Bay of Biscay. However, we have not been able to locate the material reported in that paper at the NHMUK, so we cannot confirm which species it may correspond to. Again, d’Hondt (1985) recorded  N. marsupiatus far west of Galicia Bank at 4270–4360 m depth, and halfway between the Azores and Madeira at 4900–4960 m depth, but the revision of the original material confirms that it belongs to a new species,  Scutoplites batmani sp. nov. (see below). Finally, d’Hondt &amp; Schopf (1985) reported  N. marsupiatus off New Jersey at 3806 m depth and at the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 3730–3783 m depth, but again the revision of the original material confirms that it belongs to other species ( S. batmani sp. nov. and perhaps  S. virgulus sp. nov., see below).</p><p>In summary, at present  Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. is known with certainty only from the NW Iberian Peninsula at 2018 m depth. Its presence in other nearby areas, such as the Bay of Biscay, remains to be confirmed by collecting new material.</p><p>Scrupocellaria marsupiata is here selected as the type species of  Scutoplites n. gen.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3890340390520CCBBFF347536FEFF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D38903403E0521CCBBFAEC72F7FE6F.text	03D38903403E0521CCBBFAEC72F7FE6F.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites clausus (Busk 1884) Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites clausus (Busk, 1884) n. comb.</p><p>(Fig. 2)</p><p>Menipea clausa Busk, 1884: 20, pl. 4, fig. 5.</p><p>Notoplites marsupiatus: Harmer 1923: 351.</p><p>Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1973: 1212.</p><p>Notoplites clausus: Souto et al. 2011: 38, figs 16–20; Berning &amp; Spencer Jones 2023: 6.</p><p>Material examined.   NHMUK 1887.12.9.83 (lectotype):  Challenger, stn. 70, 38º25’N, 35º50’W, 3063 m, 26 Jun. 1873 (see Busk 1884 and Souto et al. 2011) (Fig. 2 A–E)  .   MNHN-IB-2008-6744: Noratlante PR 063, 36º48.5’N, 27º06’W, 1940 m, 3 Oct. 1969 (d’Hondt 1973, as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata) (Fig. 2F).</p><p>Remarks.  Menipea clausa was described by Busk (1884) for material collected by the  Challenger Expedition west of the Azores at 3063 m depth. Shortly after the original description of the species, Jullien (1888) and Waters (1888) suggested that  M. clausa was a junior synonym of  Scrupocellaria marsupiata, and this synonymy was accepted by later authors (e.g. Calvet 1907; Harmer 1923; Prenant &amp; Bobin 1966). This is the reason why the species was never cited again until its redescription as a different species by Souto et al. (2011). According to the latter authors,  Notoplites clausus is characterized by elongated autozooids with orifices that are wider than long, a scutum that is longer than wide and has 8–10 short fissures along its outer margin, while there are none along its inner side, a small distolateral avicularium located basally and not visible in frontal view, and up to three distal spines in the outer distal angle and one in the inner angle. The mention of basal vibracula in this species (see Harmer 1923 as  N. marsupiatus) is surely due to confusion with the displaced lateral avicularia (see Souto et al. 2011 and above).</p><p>The record from about 130 km west of the island of Santa Maria at 1940 m depth by d’Hondt (1973, as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata) most probably corresponds to  S. clausus n. comb., although the state of conservation of the original sample (MNHN-IB-2008-6744) is relatively poor as it is affected by Bynesian decay (Fig. 2F). However, its measurements match perfectly with those of the type specimens.</p><p>Considering the characters of the species,  M. clausa is here included in  Scutoplites n. gen.</p><p>Scutoplites clausus n. comb. is presently known only from a station several hundred kilometres west of the Azores at 3063 m depth and from south of the Azores at 1940 m depth.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D38903403E0521CCBBFAEC72F7FE6F	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D38903403F0523CCBBF9E0702CFDFB.text	03D38903403F0523CCBBF9E0702CFDFB.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites saojorgensis (Berning 2013) Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites saojorgensis (Berning, 2013) n. comb.</p><p>(Fig. 3)</p><p>Notoplites marsupiatus: Calvet 1931: 69.</p><p>Notoplites saojorgensis Berning 2013: 2, fig. 1.</p><p>Material examined.   MNHN-IB-2008-4163 (holotype): Princess Alice, Stn 1349, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-28.095835&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=38.591667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -28.095835/lat 38.591667)">São Jorge</a>, 38°35’30’’N, 28°05’45’’W, 1250 m, 19 Aug. 1902, a large colony free of a substrate, dry (see Berning 2013) (Fig. 3 A–C)  .  MOM INV-22675 (formerly MOM 42 0877) and MON INV-22988 (formerly MOM 42 1213) (paratypes): same locality information as holotype (see Berning 2013) . Additional material examined using SEM:  ZMH Br2029: R / V Meteor, M150, Stn 142, Princess Alice Bank, 37°54.975’N, 29°03.868’W, 995 m, 6 Sept. 2018, a 4.5 cm tall colony in ethanol, sequenced by Orr et al. (2022), Genbank Accession Codes: OK244933, MZ677661, MZ678042 (Fig. 3F) .  SMF 44839: R / V Meteor, M151, Stn 47-1, Açor Bank, 38°01.872‘N, 29°25.558‘W, 830 m, 14 Oct. 2018, a large colony (c. 4 cm) on dead coral skeleton, in ethanol .  MHNUSC-Bry 789–792: D10, Iberia Seamount “Bolinha”, 39º19‘53.77‘‘N, 29º45‘20.08‘‘W, 1280 m, 4 Sept. 2019 (sample EX 2_D10_ R 22_B01), fragments dry and in alcohol (Fig. 3 D, E) . Additional material examined optically:  SMF 44841: R / V Meteor, M151, Stn 53-1, Açor Bank, 38°01.875’N, 29°25.565’W, 830 m, 15 Oct. 2018, one large colony in ethanol .  SMF 44842: R / V Meteor, M151, Stn 53-2, Açor Bank, 38°01.878’N, 29°25.562’W, 830 m, 15 Oct. 2018, one colony on dead coral skeleton, in ethanol .</p><p>Remarks. The original material reported from the Azores by Calvet (1931) as  N. marsupiatus, collected at 1250 m depth off south-central São Jorge Island, was revised by Berning (2013) and described as a new species,  N. saojorgensis . This species shows robust internodes with wide, club-shaped autozooecia provided with a quite large scutum with long fissures and generally lacking distal orificial spines, while the lateral avicularium is clearly visible in frontal view, and the ooecia have a small triangular proximomedian fenestra. We ourselves have revised also material collected at 1280 m depth in the Iberia Seamount, situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge halfway between the central and western groups of Azorean islands, as well as southwest of the central group of islands between 830 and 995 m depth.</p><p>According to the original description (Berning 2013), the scutum base of  N. saojorgensis occasionally bears a single, greatly enlarged spine, whereas a smaller single spine distal to the orifice is present only in median autozooids at branching points. Both types of spines are also present in Iberia Seamount material, but some autozooids also have a variously developed distal spine located directly in the area where the lateral avicularium joins the external wall of the autozooid (Fig. 3 D, E).</p><p>Freshly collected material enables us to further describe the colonies, which grow several cm in height (&gt; 4.5 cm), forming a single, central stem. The stem has a zig-zag pattern with new lateral branches arising at each bend. The lateral branches lack the zig-zag pattern but bifurcate once at some distance to the colony axis (Fig. 3F). The zooecia are translucent when fresh and clean. The porcelain-white aspect depicted by Berning (2013: fig. 1A) is likely to appear only when the colony is dried.</p><p>At present,  N. saojorgensis is known only from the Azores archipelago at 830–1280 m depth, occurring in and around the central group of islands. Based on the characters of the species,  N. saojorgensis is here included in  Scutoplites n. gen.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D38903403F0523CCBBF9E0702CFDFB	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D38903403D0523CCBBFD1170D2FAE9.text	03D38903403D0523CCBBFD1170D2FAE9.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites reverteri (Souto 2019) Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites reverteri (Souto, 2019) n. comb.</p><p>(Fig. 4)</p><p>Notoplites reverteri Souto in Souto &amp; Albuquerque, 2019: 37, fig. 9.</p><p>Material examined.  MB37-000062 (holotype): EMEPC/PEPC/LUSO 2016, stn. D04, 33.9197ºN, 37.5088ºW, 1067 m depth (Fig. 4) (see also Souto &amp; Albuquerque 2019) .</p><p>Remarks. This species was very recently described for a single colony collected at the Hayes Fracture Zone, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge SW of the Azores.</p><p>Despite the scarcity of material and the absence of ovicells,  N. reverteri has two characters that define it well. Firstly, the six non-articulated, conical and pointed distal spikes (Fig. 4). And secondly, the shape of the convex flabelliform scutum, with digital branch prolongations with long slitlike indentations between them, such that it is possible to see how the central axis of the scutum is located diagonally over the opesia, while its area of attachment to the gymnocyst is clearly thickened and recurved (Fig. 4). The stout distal spikes resemble those of  S. batmani sp. nov., but that species has a completely different scutum (see below and Fig. 10). The scutum with the oblique axis and the thickened and recurved attachment resembles that of  S. hamartia sp. nov., but in that species the slitlike indentations are shorter, among other characters (see below and Fig. 5).</p><p>Considering the characters of this species,  N. reverteri is here included in  Scutoplites n. gen. In this species, however, the frontal avicularium is present only in the median autozooid of the branching point, which constitutes an exclusive character.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D38903403D0523CCBBFD1170D2FAE9	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D389034032052CCCBBFF34703BF842.text	03D389034032052CCCBBFF34703BF842.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites hamartia Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites hamartia sp. nov.</p><p>(Fig. 5; Table 1)</p><p>Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1975: 556 (part), not figs 14–16.</p><p>Material examined.   Holotype: MNHN-IB-2008-7441: <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-28.483334&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=38.716667" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -28.483334/lat 38.716667)">Biaçores</a> stn. 64, 38º43’N, 28º29’W, 1200–1240 m, 14 Oct. 1971, several small fragments of a single colony, dry (Fig. 5 A, B, E)  .   Paratype: MNHN-IB-2008-7420: <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-28.25&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=38.2" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -28.25/lat 38.2)">Biaçores</a> stn. 54A, 38º12’N, 28º15’W, 1810 m, 13 Oct. 1971, proximal part of colony with rhizoids, dry (Fig. 5 C, D).</p><p>Etymology.  hamartia, noun from ancient Greek ἁμαρτία (error), as the material here assigned to this new species was originally misidentified as  S. marsupiata .</p><p>Description. Colony erect, dichotomously branching, attached to the substrate by rhizoids that are produced from a small pore near the proximal end on the abfrontal side of some autozooids, densely intertwined to form a stalk. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids opening on one side only. Branching points composed of a single proximomedian autozooid and two distolateral ones. Autozooids elongate, narrower and tubular proximally, with the distal half turned outwards alternatingly to right or to left. Skeletal surface smooth, autozooids separated by a distinct groove, forming a zigzag line on the abfrontal side. Distal half of autozooid occupied by an extensive oval membranous area, covered proximally by a large, convex, flabelliform scutum, elongate oval, longer than wide. Main axis of scutum originating from a broad and strongly recurved base near the inner distal autozooid margin just proximolateral to orifice and directed proximally. Scutum covering the entire frontal area, digit-like prolongations present all around the main axis, usually branching once, merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst, leaving 21–27 slit-like fissures of variable length between them, long fissures generally alternating with short ones. Distal edge of scutum projecting as a straight lip that delimits the small opercular area, oral margin slightly raised, as long as wide, somewhat asymmetrical and displaced towards the outer autozooid marging. Operculum thickly sclerotised. Outer distal angle of autozooids with one spine, presumably strong but broken in the examined material. Inner distal angle with one spine, inconstant, usually broken. Median autozooids at branching points with only one outer spine.</p><p>Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: one situated distolateral to orifice but displaced basally and generally difficult to see in frontal view, with the triangular mandible directed outwards; another small avicularium on a raised cystid just proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed upwards. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.</p><p>Ovicell lacking in the material examined. An ancestrula was not observed.</p><p>Remarks. The description of  S. hamartia sp. nov. is based on several fragments, the largest of them comprising 12 autozooids with two branching points, but all of them lacking ovicells. Therefore, the description cannot be complete. However, the remaining characters are significant enough to differentiate this species from the others treated in the present work.</p><p>Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. has shorter autozooids (c. 0.5 mm), a shorter scutum that is nearly as long as wide and with fewer fissures (c. 15), as well as with a stout spine on its base; the lateral avicularium is large, positioned laterally to the orifice and clearly visible in frontal view; and finally, the orifice is as long as wide. In  S. clausus n. comb. the autozooids are longer and narrower (1.000 x 0.222 mm), there are fewer fissures around the scutum (7–9) and none on the inner margin; up to three spines are present on the outer distolateral edge and a stout spine is present near the base of the scutum.  Scutoplites saojorgensis n. comb. shares with  S. hamartia sp. nov. the orifice displaced towards the outer autozooid margin and the high number of fissures in the scutum, which, however, has a completely different appearance. Moreover, in  S. saojorgensis n. comb. most of the autozooids lack spines, the scutum is wider than long, and the lateral avicularium is clearly visible in frontal view. Finally, in  S. reverteri n. comb. the autozooids are clearly shorter, the scutum less developed, the lateral avicularium is visible in frontal view, and autozooids bear two lateral and four distal, stout, pointed spines.</p><p>The material here described as  S. hamartia sp. nov. was originally identified by d’Hondt (1975) as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata but, as noted above, several species were combined under this name in that work. The specimens imaged by d’Hondt (1975: figs 14–16), without any further comments, do not belong to the present species because they show a smaller scutum with few fissures and autozooids devoid of spines, except for the median one in a branching point. This material mostly resembles  S. virgulus sp. nov. (see below).</p><p>At present,  S. hamartia sp. nov. is known only from the central Azores around Ilha do Pico, at depths between 1200 m and 1810 m.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D389034032052CCCBBFF34703BF842	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D3890340300529CCBBFF3472E7FBC3.text	03D3890340300529CCBBFF3472E7FBC3.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites virgulus Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites virgulus sp. nov.</p><p>(Figs 6, 7; Tables 2–4)</p><p>Scrupocellaria marsupiata: d’Hondt 1975: 556 (in part) (figs 14–16?).</p><p>?  Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985: 913 (part).</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985: 913 (part). [=  S. batmani sp. nov., see below]</p><p>Material examined.   Holotype: MNHN-IB-2008-7576: Biaçores stn. 245, 40º57’N, 22º16’W, 4270 m, 14 Nov. 1971 (d’Hondt 1975, as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata) (Fig. 6 A, E, F, G)  .  Paratypes: MNHN-IB-2017-1894 (separated from MNHN-IB-2008-7586; Fig. 6 B, D), same information as for the holotype, a small branch fragment, dry;  MNHN-IB-2017-1905 (separated from MNHN-IB-2008-7569; Fig. 6 C, H), same information as for the holotype, a branch fragment with ovicellate zooids, dry . Additional material examined:   MNHN-IB-2008-11964:  Atlantis II, cruise 24, stn. 126, 39º37’– 39º37.5’N, 66º44’– 66º47’W, 3806 m (d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985, as  Notoplites marsupiatus) (Fig. 7 A, F)  .   MNHN-IB-2008-11966:  Atlantis II, cruise 31, stn. 155, 0°03’0’’S, 27°48’0’’W, 3730–3783 m (d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985, as  Notoplites marsupiatus) (Fig. 7 B–E).</p><p>Etymology. From the Latin virgula (rod, stick), reflecting the long internodes without signs of branching. While it is likely that branching does occur, it is remarkable that it is absent from the relatively long internodes.</p><p>Description. Colony erect, presumably dichotomously branching but several long (&gt; 6.4 mm) and straight internodes do not show signs of bifurcation, attached to the substrate by rhizoids. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids, opening on one side only. Autozooids elongate, slightly narrower and tubular proximally, with the distal half turned outwards alternatingly to right or left. Distal third of autozooid occupied by an oval membranous area, covered proximally by a convex flabelliform scutum, slightly longer than wide, attached to the inner proximal angle of orifice; marginally merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst except on the inner side, with about 6–10 narrow and variably long radial fissures, lacking on the inner edge, leaving a wide imperforated central area. Rarely a spine lateral to orifice, just distal of attachment of scutum; a second small one in the proximal outer angle of the orifice and a third in the outer distal angle of the autozooid. All spines broken in the material examined and frequently lacking. Orifice wider than long. Operculum thickly sclerotised.</p><p>Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: one small, situated proximolateral to orifice, with the triangular mandible obliquely directed proximally and outwards; another small one on a raised cystid just proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed proximally. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.</p><p>Ovicell large, globular, prominent, longer than wide, resting on the proximal part of the distal autozooid. Surface somewhat uneven and with a proximomedian circular fenestra, the proximolateral ooecial margins reaching towards mid-distance of lateral orifice rim, ovicell opening well arched above orifice.</p><p>An ancestrula was not observed.</p><p>Remarks. As for the previous species, the description of  S. virgulus sp. nov. is based on several fragments that are not very well preserved. Despite having ovicells, the fragments lack dichotomies. Therefore, the description cannot be complete. An apparent budding of a new branch shown in Fig. 7B and D originates from rhizoids on the abfrontal side of the proximal branch. Nonetheless, the remaining characters are significant enough to differentiate this species from the others treated in the present work.</p><p>Scutoplites virgulus sp. nov. mostly resembles  S. clausus n. comb. but differs in several key characters: in  S. virgulus sp. nov. the scutum is almost circular, only slightly longer than wide and with longer fissures, whereas in  S. clausus n. comb. the scutum is clearly longer than wide and has shorter fissures. The lateral avicularia are visible in frontal view in  S. virgulus sp. nov. but they are displaced basally and not visible in frontal view in  S. clausus n. comb. The ovicell is clearly longer than wide in  S. virgulus sp. nov. whilst it is slightly wider than long in  S. clausus n. comb. Finally,  S. virgulus sp. nov. has fewer distal spines.</p><p>Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. has more numerous and longer fissures, a larger lateral avicularium, a much longer ovicell, and the orifice is as long as wide.  Scutoplites saojorgensis n. comb. has a scutum that is wider than long, with longer and more numerous fissures, a larger lateral avicularium, the orifice is displaced towards the outer autozooid margin, and it has a triangular fenestra in the ovicell. Finally, in  S. reverteri n. comb. and  S. hamartia sp. nov. the scutum is very different, with longer digital branch prolongations, among other differences.</p><p>Part of the material here described as  S. virgulus sp. nov. was originally reported as  Scrupocellaria marsupiata by d’Hondt (1975) but, as noted above, several species were combined under this name in that work. The specimens imaged by d’Hondt (1975: figs 14–16), are quite similar to  S. virgulus sp. nov. and show a dichotomy, which is unfortunately lacking in the material studied here. However, these figures are not completely representative and, furthermore, d’Hondt (1975) did not include any comment on the origin of the figured sample, or samples, while the work includes nine different localities for  Scrupocellaria marsupiata that are geographically spaced far apart from each other. Therefore, we cannot unquestionably ascribe those figures to the present species.</p><p>D’Hondt &amp; Schopf (1985) reported  N. marsupiatus from two distant Atlantic localities: hundreds kilometres east of New Jersey at 3806 m depth (MNHN-IB-2008-11964), and in the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 3730–3783 m depth (MNHN-IB-2008-11966) (see above additional material examined). While two of the fragments from the latter locality belong to  S. batmani sp. nov. (MNHN-IB-2022-574, see below and Fig. 10C), the remaining material is morphologically quite similar to the type material of  S. virgulus sp. nov., and also occurs in depths of over 3700 m. Although the biometric data are somewhat larger, they generally maintain the same proportions (see Tables 3, 4). In sample MNHN-IB-2008-11966, some autozooids have up to four stout distal spines (Fig. 7C), whereas in others these are absent (Fig. 7B). Autozooids with spines probably correspond to the first generations of autozooids from the zone of astogenetic change, with an ancestrula (currently unknown) that is perhaps vase shaped with a circle of spines, as in other  Candidae . Despite the considerable distance separating the three localities (USA, Azores and equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge), in the absence of morphological differences we have to assign all the material to the same species. The species description given above is, therefore, exclusively based on the type specimens, which are from a single station north of the Azores (4270 m depth). In the case of  S. batmani sp. nov. (see below) we also found the same species in three similarly distant locations. Nonetheless, it is clearly necessary to collect new material and conduct molecular studies to verify the identifications, but when working with material from deep waters, as is the case, this will probably be a very difficult endeavour.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3890340300529CCBBFF3472E7FBC3	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D389034037052BCCBBFB0975DAFBD8.text	03D389034037052BCCBBFB0975DAFBD8.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites azorensis Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites azorensis sp. nov.</p><p>(Fig. 8; Table 5)</p><p>Material examined.   Holotype: MHNUSC 10157: D11, Iberia Seamount “ <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-29.751831&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=39.33139" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -29.751831/lat 39.33139)">Top of Bolinha</a> ”, 39º19’53.01’’N, 29º45’06.59’’W, 1230 m, 5 Jul. 2019 (sample EX2_D11_R14B10), fragment a (Fig. 8 A, B) and fragment b (Fig. 8 C–F) dry, fragment c in alcohol.</p><p>Etymology. The name  azorensis alludes to the geographic origin of the studied material.</p><p>Description. Colony erect, dichotomously branching. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids opening on one side only. Branching points composed of a single proximomedian autozooid and two distolateral ones.Autozooids elongate, relatively stout, with the distal half of the autozooid slightly turned outwards alternatingly to right or left. Distal half of autozooid occupied by a large, oval, membranous area, covered proximally by a convex flabelliform scutum that is elongate oval, longer than wide, and attached to the inner proximal angle of orifice; scutum margin merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst, with about 16–21 narrow, radial fissures that are variable in length, leaving a wide, imperforated central area. The distal edge of the scutum projects as a straight lip that delimits the opercular area, which is clearly wider than long. Operculum thickly sclerotised. One small spine inconstantly present on the inner side of the orifice. Outer distal angle of autozooids with two (rarely three) stout spines that can reach twice the length of an autozooid. Median autozooid in the branching point with one single spine located on the opposite side of the base of the scutum.</p><p>Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: one small, located mediolaterally to the scutum and displaced towards the basal side, difficult to see in frontal view, with the triangular mandible obliquely directed proximally and outwards; another small avicularium on a raised cystid just proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed proximally and upwards/terminally. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.</p><p>Ovicell large, globular, prominent, resting on the proximal part of the distal autozooid, sack-shaped and much longer than wide, reaching the proximal margin of the scutum; surface somewhat uneven and with a proximomedian drop-shaped fenestra pointing proximally, the proximolateral ooecial margins reaching towards mid-distance of lateral orifice rim, ovicell opening well arched above orifice.</p><p>An ancestrula was not observed.</p><p>Remarks. Only one colony was collected, now divided into three fragments, two dry and one in alcohol, all of them designated here as the holotype of the species. The external spines, although frequently broken, can become very long and show obvious signs of regeneration after breaking (Fig. 8, A, B).</p><p>Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. differs from the new species in that the scutum is nearly as wide as long and has relatively longer fissures, in a single spine that is present in each distal angle, and in a large lateral avicularium, whereas in  S. azorensis sp. nov. the scutum is clearly longer than wide, the fissures are shorter, leaving a wide central imperforated area, there are two (or even three) stout outer spines, and the lateral avicularium is difficult to see in frontal view. Moreover, the operculum in  S. marsupiatus n. comb. is as wide as long and the ovicell is very long, but in  S. azorensis sp. nov. the operculum is clearly wider than long, and the ovicell, although it is also long, is shaped like a sack.</p><p>Scutoplites saojorgensis n. comb. has a scutum that is wider than long, with the fissures normally alternating between a long and a short one, lacks spines, bears a visible lateral avicularium, the orifice is displaced towards the outer autozooid margin, and the ovicell bears a triangular fenestra.</p><p>Scutoplites clausus n. comb. has fewer and shorter fissures, which are also absent in the inner margin of the scutum, and the ovicell is clearly shorter. In  S. reverteri n. comb. there are six stout, pointed spikes and the scutum has much larger fissures. In  S. hamartia sp. nov. the scutum is also large and elongate oval but it has a broad and strongly recurved base and longer digital branch prolongations. Moreover, the outer distal angle of the autozooid bears a single spine instead of two. Finally, in  S. virgulus sp. nov. the scutum is almost circular, only slightly longer than wide, with fewer fissures while there are none in the inner edge of the scutum; the lateral avicularium, though small, is visible in frontal view; there is one single inconstant spine in the outer angle; and finally, the ovicell is shorter.</p><p>At present,  S. azorensis sp. nov. is known only from 1230 m depth on Iberia Seamount, which is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge halfway between the central and the western groups of Azorean islands.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D389034037052BCCBBFB0975DAFBD8	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D3890340350535CCBBFB37707DFBD4.text	03D3890340350535CCBBFB37707DFBD4.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites burocraticus Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites burocraticus sp. nov.</p><p>(Fig. 9; Table 6)</p><p>Material examined.   Holotype: MNHN-IB-2008-15692: HYDROSNAKE, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, <a href="https://tb.plazi.org/GgServer/search?materialsCitation.longitude=-44.983334&amp;materialsCitation.latitude=23.533333" title="Search Plazi for locations around (long -44.983334/lat 23.533333)">Kane fracture zone</a>, stn. HS17 (n°6), 23°32’N, 44°59’W (approx.), 2757 m, 6 Jul. 1988 (det. d’Hondt as  N. marsupiatus) (Fig. 9).</p><p>Etymology. The name  burocraticus is a tribute to bureaucracy, which gives us such good times. It is said that bureaucracy is the art of making the simple difficult by means of the useless (see also Discussion below).</p><p>Description. Colony erect, dichotomously branching, attached to the substrate by rhizoids. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids opening on one side only. Branching points composed of a single proximomedian autozooid and two distolateral ones. Autozooids very long and slender, relatively wider in their distal fourth. Distal half of autozooid turned outwards and projecting alternatively to right or left, producing a characteristic zigzag outline. Distal fourth of autozooid occupied by an oval membranous area, covered proximally by a convex flabelliform scutum that is semielliptical, longer than wide, and attached to the inner proximal angle of orifice; scutum margin almost merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst, with about 9–13 radial fissures of variable length. Central imperforate area of scutum marked with concentric striations. The distal edge of scutum delimits the opercular area, which is wider than long and displaced towards the outer autozooid margin. Operculum thickly sclerotised. One small spine on the inner side of the orifice, inconstant. Outer distal angle of autozooids with one or two spines, the more proximal ones being generally thicker. Median autozooid in the branching point with one single spine located on the opposite side of the base of the scutum.</p><p>Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: one small, displaced towards the basal side of the autozooid and rarely seen in frontal view, with the triangular mandible obliquely directed proximally and outwards; another small avicularium on a raised cystid just proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed proximally and upwards. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.</p><p>Only two broken ovicells present in the sample, presumably prominent, resting on the proximal part of the distal autozooid, inclined towards the branch midline, longer than wide, with a small proximomedian circular fenestra. The proximolateral ooecial margins extend towards mid-distance of lateral orifice rim, ovicell opening well arched above orifice.</p><p>An ancestrula was not observed.</p><p>Remarks. The material described here as  S. burocraticus sp. nov. was collected by the HYDROSNAKE campaign in the Kane fracture zone (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) at 2757 m depth. Based on the label, the sample was originally identified by J.-L. d’Hondt as  N. marsupiatus, but it does not seem to have ever been reported in any publication.</p><p>Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. differs in that the scutum is nearly as wide as long and with relatively long fissures, one single spine in each distal angle, and a large lateral avicularium, whereas in  S. burocraticus sp. nov. the scutum is clearly longer than wide, the fissures are shorter, there are one or two stout outer spines, and the lateral avicularium is not visible in frontal view. Moreover, the operculum in  S. marsupiatus n. comb. is as wide as long and the ovicell is very long, whereas in  S. burocraticus sp. nov. the operculum is clearly wider than long, and the ovicell, although broken, seems to be much shorter. In  S. saojorgensis n. comb. the orifice is also displaced towards the outer autozooid margin, but the scutum of this species is wider than long, with the fissures normally alternating between a long and a short one, it lacks spines, bears a visible lateral avicularium, and the ovicell has a triangular fenestra.  Scutoplites clausus n. comb. has fewer and shorter fissures, which are absent in the inner margin of the scutum, the orifice is not laterally displaced, and the autozooids are rather straight, while in  S. burocraticus sp. nov. the autozooids are more clearly bent, so that the branches show a zigzag shape. In  S. reverteri n. comb. and  S. hamartia sp. nov. the scutum is very different, with longer digital branch prolongations, among other differences. In  S. virgulus sp. nov. the scutum is almost circular, nearly as long as wide, with fewer fissures, while they are absent in the inner edge of the scutum; the lateral avicularium is visible in frontal view; and there is one single inconstant spine in the outer angle. Finally, in  S. azorensis sp. nov. the scutum is larger, with a much greater number of radial fissures, leaving a wide imperforated central area, the orifice is not displaced, and the ovicell is longer, with a drop-shaped fenestra.</p><p>At present,  S. burocraticus sp. nov. is known only from the Kane fracture zone, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at 2757 m depth.</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D3890340350535CCBBFB37707DFBD4	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
03D38903402B0537CCBBFB317192FEFF.text	03D38903402B0537CCBBFB317192FEFF.taxon	http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/Text	http://rs.tdwg.org/ontology/voc/SPMInfoItems#GeneralDescription	text/html	en	Scutoplites batmani Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning 2025	<div><p>Scutoplites batmani sp. nov.</p><p>(Fig. 10; Table 7)</p><p>Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt 1985: 41; d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985: 913 (part).</p><p>Not  Notoplites marsupiatus: d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985: 913 (part). [=  S. virgulus n. sp. ?, see above]</p><p>Material examined.   Holotype: MNHN-IB-2022-575:  Abyplaine stn. DS10, 42°51.2’– 42°49.9’N, 15°55.3’– 15°56.6’W, 4270–4360 m (d’Hondt 1985 as  N. marsupiatus) (separated from MNHN-IB-2008-12051) (Fig. 10 E, F)  .   Paratypes: MNHN-IB-2022-576:  Abyplaine stn. CP03, 36°48.7’– 36°49.4’N, 19°09.2’– 19°09.8’W, 4900–4960 m (d’Hondt 1985 as  N. marsupiatus) (separated from MNHN-IB-2008-12064) (Fig. 10 A, B, D)  .   MNHN-IB-2022- 574:  Atlantis II, cruise 31, stn. 155, 0°03’0’’S, 27°48’0’’W, 3730–3783 m, 13 Feb. 1967 (d’Hondt &amp; Schopf 1985 as  N. marsupiatus) (separated from MNHN-IB-2008-11966) (Fig. 10C ).</p><p>Etymology. The species is dedicated to Batman, since the scutum would correspond to the cape and the distal spines to the bat ears of the famous fictional character. Moreover, this species lives in eternal darkness.</p><p>Description. Colony erect, dichotomously branching, attached to the substrate by rhizoids produced from a small pore near the proximal end on the abfrontal side of some autozooids. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids opening on one side only. Branching points composed of a single proximomedian autozooid and two distolateral ones. Autozooids elongate, slightly narrower and tubular proximally, with the distal half of the autozooid turned outwards alternatingly to right or left. Distal third of the autozooid occupied by an oval membranous area, covered proximally by a convex flabelliform scutum, semielliptical, slightly longer than wide, attached to the inner proximal angle of orifice; scutum margin almost merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst; 7–11 narrow fissures of variable length, lacking on the inner edge, arranged obliquely and directed proximally and outwards. Two spines proximolaterally to the orifice and two distal to it, all of them stout and pointed, the distal ones usually larger. Some autozooids may exhibit fewer spines. In addition, a spine may be present at the external distal angle of the scutum. Orifice wider than long. Operculum thickly sclerotised.</p><p>Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: a small one situated lateral to orifice, directly at the base of the outer proximal spine, with the triangular mandible obliquely directed outwards; another small avicularium on a raised cystid directly proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed proximally. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.</p><p>Ovicell observed once, prominent, resting on the proximal part of the distal autozooid, slightly longer than wide, surface somewhat uneven and with a proximomedian drop-shaped fenestra pointing proximally, the proximolateral ooecial margins extending towards mid-distance of lateral orifice rim, ovicell opening well arched above orifice.</p><p>An ancestrula was not observed.</p><p>Remarks.  Scutoplites batmani sp. nov. shares with  S. reverteri n. comb. the stout, pointed spines, although the latter species has a total of six spines, not four. In any case,  S. batmani sp. nov. clearly differs from all the species treated here due to its scutum, which has long and fine, obliquely oriented fissures.</p><p>We have revised the only two samples reported by d’Hondt (1985 as  N. marsupiatus) from two distant NE Atlantic stations: c. 250 km west of Galicia Bank at 4270–4360 m depth (Fig. 10E, F), and halfway between the Azores and Madeira at 4900–4960 m depth (Fig. 10A, B, D). They are here designated as, respectively, holotype and paratype of the species. Additionally, one colony reported by d’Hondt &amp; Schopf (1985, as  N. marsupiatus, in part) from the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 3730–3783 m depth, also probably belongs to the same species (Fig. 10C).</p></div>	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03D38903402B0537CCBBFB317192FEFF	Public Domain	No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.		MagnoliaPress via Plazi	Reverter-Gil, Oscar;Souto, Javier;Berning, Björn	Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier, Berning, Björn (2025): Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida). Zootaxa 5618 (3): 326-350, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5618.3.2
