First fossil finds of some Australian Bryozoa (Cheilostomata)

Abstract

The abundant fossil record of well-preserved Bryozoa in samples from the Tertiary of Victoria and South Australia includes some ‘first fossil finds’ which are recorded here. Several are of species known from the Recent of the Australian or Indo-West-Pacific regions, but some represent genera with a much wider temporal and geographical range. Of the 11 species illustrated, six are known, or may be inferred, to have inhabited ‘sand fauna’ environments. Specimens of one species are complete enough to allow its formal description as Chlidoniopsis inopina sp. nov.

Keywords:

• Australia
• Bryozoa
• Cheilostomata
• Chlidoniopsis
• sand fauna
• Tertiary