Plumatella sofiae, Wood & Unger & Rasoamihaingo, 2023

Wood, Timothy S., Unger, Lilian Eva & Rasoamihaingo, Laurence, 2023, Bryozoan statoblasts from lake sediments in Madagascar, including two new species, European Journal of Taxonomy 900 (1), pp. 138-147 : 143-144

Plumatella sofiae sp. nov.

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:84847FC0-B38F-4548-B9AE-EB3FB8A28B99

Fig. 4

Diagnosis

Floatoblast large, average length>500 µm, average length: width 1.79; fenestra tubercles small and well spaced; suture minutely toothed and projecting beyond the outer margin.

Etymology

The species name is derived from the region of Sofia in northern Madagascar where these statoblasts were collected.

Material examined

Holotype

MADAGASCAR • Statoblast valves; Mahajanga Province, Sofia Region, Bealanana District, Marotolana Village, Lake Sofia ; 14°35′04″ S, 49º00′30″ E; Sep. 2019; L. Unger leg.; NHMUK 2023.1.17.2 , slide collection.

Description

Floatoblasts broadly oval and rounded at the poles, somewhat variable in shape and size ( Fig. 4a ), length 474–573 µm with average of 529 µm, width 252–326 µm with average of 296 µm (n = 4), length: width averaging 1.79; ventral valve more convex than dorsal one; dorsal fenestra slightly oblong to nearly round, encroaching on all sides of the underlying capsule; ventral fenestra matching outline of capsule; tubercles uniformly small and uncrowded on both fenestrae; annulus about three times wider at poles than along sides; suture projecting slightly beyond annulus, giving outer margin slightly serrated appearance ( Fig 4b–c ).

Remarks

Most of the statoblasts of this species were intact, but a persistent layer of silt or clay particles obscured many of the surface details.

Figures

Fig. 4. Floatoblasts of Plumatella sofiae sp. nov. a. Paired floatoblast valves, dorsal on left, ventral on right. b. One end of ventral valve showing toothed margin. c. SEM of a portion of the ventral valve showing tuberculation. Scale bars: a = 100 µm; b–c = 50 µm.