Smittina abyssicola (Harmer, 1957)

Venkatraman, C., Padmanaban, P., Louis, Soja & Shrinivaasu, S., 2018, Marine bryozoans of Gujarat and Maharashtra, Records of the Zoological Survey of India 118 (4), pp. 389-404 : 395

14. Smittina abyssicola (Harmer, 1957) (Plate 2f)

Locality: Rathnagiri fish landing centre, Maharshtra, 16° 99’ 92.1 N

Substratum: Encrusting on molluscan shells.

Description: Generally encrusting, occasionally tubular. Zoarium at first unilaminar, often with a later superposition of zooecia, which with their associated avicularia may differ materially from the juvenile condition. Zooecia usually with distinct marginal pores and areolate, sometimes with scattered frontal pores. Spines occasionally well developed, 2-6, often represented merely by their bases; apparently absent in some species. Primary orifice sunk, the operculam delicate. Peristome more or less raised and thin, or represented by a depression with no free wall. Avicularia lateral, or median suboral. Ovicells hyperstomial, globose or immersed; ( Menon and Menon, 2006).

Distribution: Ceylon, Sulu Archipelago, Sumbawa, Banda sea, West of North end of New guinea and Aru Islands.