Puellina tuba, Winston, Judith E. & Vieira, Leandro M., 2013

Winston, Judith E. & Vieira, Leandro M., 2013, Systematics of interstitial encrusting bryozoans from southeastern Brazil, Zootaxa 3710 (2), pp. 101-146 : 118-119

Puellina tuba sp. nov.

( Fig. 12 ; Table 10 )

Material examined. Holotype: MZUSP 726, measured specimen #1, BIOTA Stn 208. Paratype: VMNH 70017, BIOTA Stn 211.

Etymology. Named for BIOTA station 205, off Caraguatatuba, SP, Brazil; the second half of the locality name is used for the second and much less abundant interstitial Puellina found there. Derivation of the name is – tuba , for the rest of the locality name, and also for its curved tubular spines (Latin, tubus, pipe).

Diagnosis. Somewhat larger than the preceding species, with flat costal shield composed of 8–9 rows of costae, 5 orificial spines, raised, V-shaped first row of costae, and first costal pores with papillae, ovicell produced by distal zooid.

Description. Colony encrusting shell grains and fragments. Zooids oval to subrhombic, about 0.39 mm in size; costal shield made up of 8–9 pair of costae, covering most of frontal wall. Between rows of costae are 5–6 small intercostal pores. Frontal surface relatively flat except for low tubercles at outer ends of some costae, and a sharp conical point formed by the raised V of the joined first pair of costae. Orifice slightly more than semicircular, margins smooth, with 5 long, curving, tubular orificial spines (usually broken off). Short, triangular, papillae may protrude from first costal pores just below the orifice (visible only in live or preserved non-skeletal material). No avicularia. Ooecia produced by distal zooid, imperforate, helmet shaped, with central proximal tubercle. Ovicelled zooids with 4 oral spines.

Remarks. This species is similar to the previous species, Puellina caraguata sp. nov., but differs from it in its larger size, flatter frontal surface, longer ovicells and greater number of costae. The enlarged first pair of marginal pores have chitinous setae, another difference, but these can be seen only in non-skeletal colonies.

Distribution. São Paulo state, Brazil.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Puellina tuba sp. nov.: A, entire colony encrusting shell grain. B, Edge of colony showing curving oral spines. C, group of zooids, the central zooid ovicelled; the highest point on the frontal shield of this species is at the center of the projecting V formed by the first pair of costae. D, close-up of orifice and bases of five oral spines. Scale bars: A, 1 mm; B, C, 0.2 mm; D, 0.05 mm.

Tables

TABLE 10. Measurements (in mm) of Puellina tuba sp. nov..

	Lz	Wz	Lo	Wo	Lov	Wov
N	6	6	6	6	6	6
Mean	0.390	0.336	0.038	0.059	0.144	0.159
SD	0.019	0.019	0.004	0.008	0.011	0.014
Min	0.378	0.306	0.036	0.054	0.126	0.144
Max	0.414	0.360	0.045	0.072	0.162	0.180