Recent and fossil Lunulitidae (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) 1. The genus Otionella from New Zealand

Summary

Living species of the free-living bryozoan Family Lunulitidae are now found only in Australasia. One genus, Otionella, is particularly well represented in the Tertiary-to-Recent of New Zealand, where other genera of Lunulitidae are rare. Although some species of Otionella are common to both Australia and New Zealand, records of several nominal forms have been confused in synonymies. In order to facilitate identification of the New Zealand fauna, O. squamosa (Tenison Woods) is redefined, O. nitida (Maplestone) is redescribed, and five new species, O. inopina, O. proberti, O. zelandica, O. affinis and O. symmetrica are introduced and their distribution in time and space is discussed.