Adriatic species of Schizomavella (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata)

ABSTRACT

In this paper, material belonging to the genus Schizomavella, collected along the Croatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, is revised. Nine species were identified, including five species new to science: S. cornuta, S. halimedae, S. linearis, S. mamillata, S. adriatica sp. nov.,S. mystacea sp. nov., S. rosae sp. nov., S. stanislavi sp. nov. and S. tubulata sp. nov. Previous records of Schizomavella from the Adriatic are also discussed. The checklist of Adriatic Schizomavella species is updated to 11 species; a further two species are doubtful owing to wrong previous identifications. The presence of a calcified ‘hood’ covering the opesia of the suboral avicularium is described and its function is discussed. The morphological diversity of ovicells within the genus Schizomavella is compiled and discussed.

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:987D8AE0-1E02-430D-9AB5-50B77BEAF52E

KEYWORDS:

• Bitectiporidae
• new species
• ovicell
• avicularium
• Atlantic
• Mediterranean

Acknowledgements

We tender special thanks to Pierre Lozouet (MNHN) and Mary Spencer Jones (NHMUK) for their assistance during our visits and loan of material, and to M. Bruni (MOM), K. Sherburn and H. McGhie (MM) for the loan of material. We are also grateful to Hans De Blauwe and J.G. Harmelin for sending material, to Carla Chimenz Gusso for sending unpublished data and to Björn Berning for the revision of some material at the NHMUK. Thanks are also due to the staff of the Servizo de Microscopía Electrónica (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela) for the SEM photographs. Two anonymous reviewers provided suggestions to improve the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Part of the work by ORG and JS was supported by the project ‘Fauna Ibérica: Briozoos II (Familia Cribrilinidae – Familia Watersiporidae)’ (CGL2010-22267-C07-02), co-financed by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Spanish government) and FEDER. Present funding of JS is provided by the Austrian FWF (Lise Meitner Program no. M1444-B25).