Bryopesanser grandicella ( Canu & Bassler, 1929 ) Canu & Bassler, 1929

Tilbrook, Kevin J., 2012, Review of the bryozoan genus Bryopesanser Tilbrook, 2006 (Escharinidae: Cheilostomata) with the description of 11 new species, Zootaxa 3165, pp. 39-63 : 44-46

Bryopesanser grandicella ( Canu & Bassler, 1929) n. comb.

( Figures 8–10 , Table 1)

Mastigophora grandicella Canu & Bassler, 1929: 414 , pl. 58, figs 1–3.

Material examined. Lectotype (here chosen): USNM 8225 (fig. 3 in Canu & Bassler 1929), Albatross Station 5217, Anima Sola Island, Ragay Gulf, off North Burias, 13°20’ N, 123°14’15” E, 192 m (105 fms). Paralectotypes (here chosen): USMN 545186 (ex-USNM 8225- Fig. 1 ), Albatross Station 5217, Anima Sola Island, Ragay Gulf, off North Burias, 13°20’ N, 123°14’15” E, 192 m (105 fms); USMN 545187 (ex-USNM 8225; fig. 2 in Canu & Bassler 1929), Albatross Station 5217, Anima Sola Island, Ragay Gulf, off North Burias, 13°20’ N, 123°14’15” E, 192 m (105 fms).

Description. Autozooids large, 0.60–0.80 x 0.60–0.70 mm, irregularly polygonal, separated by shallow grooves. Frontal shield almost smooth, slightly convex, with small multiporous pores; areolae paired laterally or proximally. Primary orifice as long as wide, ca 0.11 x 0.11 mm anter deeply arched, proximal border more or less horizontal in the vicinity of the condyles, slightly rounded beyond them, the condyles thin and minutely denticulate; frontal rim of orifice parallel-sided and appearing angular distally in some zooids; sinus drop-shaped, wider than long. Autozooids with 7 unevenly spaced oral spines (the 2 most proximal pairs closely spaced, the distal 3 widely spaced), ovicellate zooids with 6 oral spines, the most distal pair slightly incorporated into the ovicell. Proximal peristome widely flared. Avicularia lateral to most proximal pair of spines, distomedially directed; rostrum medium-sized, open-ended; crossbar complete; mandible fan-shaped. Ovicell with slightly raised frontal process.

Remarks. Bryopesanser grandicella is characterised by the relatively large size of its autozooids, multiporous frontal pores, squared orificial rim, and flared peristome. The position of the distomedially directed avicularia is also characteristic.

The species differs from B. pesanseris in autozooidal size, its parallel-sided orificial rim and multiporous frontal pores. B. grandicella produces a flared peristome similar to B. latesco , differing from B. pesanseris , B. capitaneus and B. latesco , which develop a peristomial umbo. The possession of multiporous frontal pores separates B. grandicella from B. latesco but they are not unique to B. grandicella , occurring also in B. capitaneus and B. gardineri n. sp.

Canu & Bassler (1929: 415, pl. 58, figs 9, 10) also described Mastigophora baculifera from the Philippines. However, this species does not belong in the genus Bryopesanser owing to the presence of numerous distal spines; it appears to be a species of Rogicka Uttley & Bullivant, 1972 which could be confirmed following detailed examination and the redescription of the original material.

Distribution. Bryopesanser grandicella is only found in the Philippines.

Figures

FIGURES 8 – 10, Bryopesanser grandicella. Lectotype specimen, USNM 8225 - Fig. 3, off North Burias. Scale bars: 8, 500 µm; 9, 100 µm; 10, 100 µm.

FIGURES 1 – 4, Bryopesanser pesanseris. 1, Holotype specimen, SMNH 1971, West of Tortugas; 2, USNM 7545, Straits of Florida; 3, NHMUK 1911.10. 1.1212, Madeira; 4, USNM 8572, Brazil. Scale bars: 1, 200 µm; 2, 100 µm; 3, 200 µm; 4, 100 µm.