Recent and fossil Lunulitidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) 6. Lunulites sensu lato and the genus Lunularia from Australasia

Abstract

The characters of the genus Lunulites Lamarck, and of some closely related genera are described and discussed. The genus Lunularia Busk is reintroduced, and three species from Australasia are described. One species, L. parvicella, is known only as an Australian Tertiary fossil, but the remaining two, L. capulus and L. repandus, have an extensive Tertiary-to-Recent Australasian distribution. L. capulus is apparently confined to Australian waters and deposits, but L. repandus has now been found in the Miocene and Recent of New Zealand, as well as off the southern and western Australian coasts.

Keywords :

• Australasia
• Bryozoa
• Cheilostomata
• Lunularia
• Lunulites
• Recent
• Tertiary