Cellaria, Ellis & Solander, 1786

Achilleos, Katerina, Gordon, Dennis P. & Smith, Abigail M., 2020, Cellaria (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from the deep: new species from the southern Zealandian region, Zootaxa 4801 (2), pp. 201-236 : 221-222

Cellaria sp. 4

( Fig. 12 )

Cellaria sp. 4: Achilleos et al. 2019: [4–8].

Material examined. NIWA 132738 , NIWA Stn G 7, 28.7917° S, 167.7500° E , NNE of Norfolk Island, 366 m, collected 28 September 1966 .

Description. Colony erect, jointed, possibly branched laterally, comprising a single internode fragment not exceeding 2 mm in length. Stem cylindrical, tapered proximally (W, 275–477 μm). Zooids arranged in whorls of 3, with 10 whorls in fragment.

Autozooidal cystid with hexagonal outline, longer than wide (ZL, 415–583 μm; ZW, 347–387 μm; ratio 1.3). Cryptocyst evenly granular-tubercular over entire surface; cryptocystal ridges close to zooidal margin all around except midlaterally, the sunken area lowest proximal to opesia. Moderate-sized triangular area distal to opesia. Opesia wider than long (OpL, 65–75 μm; OpW, 86–96 μm; ratio 0.72); rim very low, appearing to be beaded by granules distally, the proximal margin flanked by upturned knob-like condyles.

Avicularia and ovicells not seen.

Ancestrula not seen; proximal end of stem with truncated autozooidal cystid remnants, with what appear to be rootlet pores rather than cystid chambers seen in section.

Remarks. The specimen closely resembles Cellaria gracillima n. sp. in general appearance but is distinguished by its cryptocyst ridges being close to the zooid margin. Discovery of further material with avicularia, ooecia and perhaps branches will clarify its status. The tapered proximal end of the sole fragment, with what appear to be rootlet pores, may be indicative of dichotomous branching; on the other hand, a frontal foramen in the sunken proximofrontal part of the cryptocyst of one zooid is suggestive of lateral branching (or merely an anchoring rootlet).

Distribution. NNE of Norfolk Island, Norfolk Ridge, 366 m depth.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Cellaria sp. 4, NIWA Stn G7. A. Part of stem, showing apparent rootlet pores at the proximal end; the top left zooid has a frontal foramen pertaining either to an anchoring rootlet or the site of a lateral branch. B. Autozooids and opesia; note the closeness of the cryptocyst ridges to the zooidal margins, except midlaterally. Scale bars: A, 200 μm; B, 100 μm.