Cradoscrupocellaria sp.

Fig. 8 C–F

Material

MALAYSIA: MSL BRY015, Kuah jetty, Langkawi, fouling a rope hanging from the jetty.

Description

Colony erect, bushy, jointed, dichotomously branched, ramifications typically after every four zooids, zooids arranged alternately and opening on one side of branch only. Autozooids elongate, about 0.40–0.50 mm long by 0.20–0.24 mm wide; opesia occupying most of frontal surface, oval; gymnocyst moderately well developed proximally; cryptocyst very narrow, smooth; 4 or 5 long, basally articulated spines in distal half of zooid, the one that is more proximal and closest to branch axis forming a scutum bending over frontal membrane and bifid at the end (Fig. 8F); ovicell globular, wider than long, ectooecium with about 4–6 distal pores near distal edge, circular or radially elliptical (Fig. 8F). Avicularia small, located either on: (1) proximal gymnocyst on side closest to branch axis, orientated transversely or proximolaterally and facing outwards, often absent, variable in size, rostrum dentate, tip hooked; or (2) edge of branch close to distal end of autozooids, orientated outwards and facing distally, rostrum triangular, tip hooked. Vibracula located on outer proximal gymnocyst of autozooid, orientated proximally, seta up to 1 mm long.

Remarks

Vieira et al. (2014) have recently subdivided the species-rich genus Scrupocellaria . The taxonomy of this group is complex and the material collected from Langkawi is tentatively assigned to the genus Cradoscrupocellaria pending a more detailed study.