Schizotheca divisa ( Norman, 1864 )

Reverter-Gil, Oscar & Fernández-Pulpeiro, Eugenio, 2007, Species of genus Schizotheca Hincks (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) described in the Atlantic-Mediterranean region, with notes on some species of Parasmittina Osburn, Journal of Natural History 41 (29 - 32), pp. 1929-1953 : 1951

Schizotheca divisa ( Norman, 1864)

Lepralia divisa Norman 1864, p 86 , Plate 10, Figure 6 .

Schizotheca divisa (Norman) : Hayward and Ryland 1999, p 384, Figures 182, 183A, B.

Material examined

NHM-1985.1.10.27: Stokes Point, Plymouth. Figured by Hayward and Ryland (1999).

Remarks

Schizotheca divisa is easily distinguished from other species in the genus by a well-developed peristome with an asymmetrical deep U-shaped notch on the inner side of the proximal border, the scarcity or absence of vicarious avicularia, with a small elliptical rostrum, the absence of adventitious avicularia, and by the aspect of the ovicell, which has a long, narrow median fissure, closed proximally.

According to Hayward and Ryland (1999) this species does not appear to have been found beyond the British Isles, where it ranges from Antrim to the English Channel. Schizotheca divisa has also been reported on the north coast of France: Roscoff ( Echalier and Prenant 1951; Reverter et al. 1995) and Étretat ( Jullien 1881); however, we were not able to locate the original reference material and were therefore unable to confirm these reports.

Figures

Figure 6. Schizotheca aviculifera. (A) Group of zooids (MNHN-14754); (B) view in perspective, showing the position of adventitious avicularia (MNHN-14748); (C) two ovicellate zooids, one of them with three spines (right) (MNHN-14748); (D) two orifices, showing poorly developed proximal teeth, and condyles with wavy distal edge (MNHN-14754); (E) orifice with well-developed proximal teeth (MNHN-14748); (F) a vicarious avicularium, showing Y-shaped foramen (MNHN-14754).