Plumatella kisalensis Wood, 2020

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 : 144-145

Plumatella kisalensis Wood, 2020

Fig. 5

Stolella indica Wiebach, 1964: 22–25 , text-figs 16–21, pls 8–10 (not Annandale 1909: 279–280).

Material examined

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 2023.1.17.3 , slide collection .

Description

Floatoblast small: 330 µm long, 214 µm wide, both valves about equally convex; dorsal fenestra unusually large in proportion to overall dimensions, measuring 250 µm by 182 µm, ventral fenestra slightly larger ( Fig. 5a ); tubercles small, bead-like, and well spaced; small, rounded knobs project from suture around entire periphery, giving a distinctly toothed appearance ( Fig. 5b–c ).

Remarks

Since only a single statoblast was available, there is no range in size to report. Plumatella kisalensis was first described from material collected at three sites in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo ( Wood 2020). The single floatoblast examined from Lake Sofia sediments is considerably smaller than those of the type material, which average 476 µm in length ( Wood 2020). Statoblast size among plumatellid bryozoans is often strikingly variable, even from the same colony. All other features of the floatoblast match the holotype.

Figures

Fig. 5. Floatoblasts of Plumatella kisalensis Wood, 2018. a. Paired valves, dorsal on left, ventral on right. b. SEM image of one end of ventral valve showing tuberculation. c. One end of ventral valve showing toothed margin. Scale bars: a = 100 µm; b–c = 50 µm.