Reginella biporosa ( Okada, 1923 ) Yang & Seo & Min & Grischenko & Gordon, 2018

Yang, Ho Jin, Seo, Ji Eun, Min, Bum Sik, Grischenko, Andrei V. & Gordon, Dennis P., 2018, Cribrilinidae (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) of Korea, Zootaxa 4377 (2), pp. 216-234 : 223-224

Reginella biporosa ( Okada, 1923) n. comb.

(Figs 16, 18–19)

Cribrilina biporosa Okada, 1923: 226 , fig. 6.

Material examined. South Sea: Cheongsan Island, 1 colony; Soan Island, 1 colony.

Description. Colony encrusting, unilaminar, multiserial, up to 30 mm across. Autozooids more or less elongate-oval, widest in middle region. Frontal shield comprising 10–12 (mostly 11) costae, pinnate except in suboral pair, more distal ones parallel-sided, more proximal ones triangular, opposing pairs meeting at weakly defined irregular median suture line; 3–6 lacunae between adjacent costae. First pair of costae variable, generally with tips of opposing costae slightly raised. A single pseudopore in each costa, subterminal, often more terminal in suboral pair. No gymnocyst laterally, rarely present proximally. Autozooidal orifice transversely D-shaped, proximal margin more or less straight or weakly convex. Paired, somewhat flattened, non-articulated latero-oral spine-like processes present; these tending to widen and curve frontalwards. Avicularia rare, interzooidal, subvicarious (Fig. 19), rostrum and opesia equally biconvex, hence having overall figure-eight shape, or unequally biconvex; crossbar complete, opesia with smooth, narrow cryptocyst. Ooecium recumbent on distal zooid, smoothsurfaced with conspicuous pair of ectooecial fenestrae and thin median suture (Figs 16, 18). Basal pore-chambers absent; uniporous mural septula present, each with relatively large communication pore. Ancestrula not seen.

Measurements. ZL, 421–553 (499) µm; ZW, 312–361 (342) µm; OrL, 86–123 (103) µm; OrW, 162–194 (172) µm; AvL 180 µm; AvW 129 µm; OoL 223 (223) µm; OoW 242 (242) µm.

Remarks. Reginella biporosa is of questionable generic affinity. The bifenestrate ooecium is like that in typical species of Figularia . On the other hand, the form of the costate shield and orifice, with its paired flattened spinose processes, is consistent with Reginella . Conceptually, it is possible that the ectooecial pseudopores in a multiporous Reginella could be reduced in number to two large pores. Soule et al. (1995) considered the characters that are shared by three genera named by Jullien (1886), i.e. Reginella , Lyrula [preoccupied, replaced by Jullienula Bassler, 1953 ] and Figularia , proposing that the latter two should be treated as subgenera of Reginella . Here, we maintain each as a separate genus, with the following key characters:

Reginella —no lateral gymnocyst; orifice more or less transversely D-shaped, no definite condyles; paired latero-oral processes; avicularia when present interzooidal, with crossbar; ooecium well-developed, with two to several ectooecial foramina.

Jullienula —no lateral gymnocyst; orifice more or less campanuliform; paired latero-oral processes; avicularia when present vicarious, lacking crossbar; ooecium much reduced in size, almost vestigial, possibly derived from 1– 2 costae, each with one or a few pseudopores or none.

Figularia —well-developed lateral gymnocyst; orifice with well-developed poster and condyles; no oral processes; avicularia vicarious, with crossbar; ooecium well-developed, typically bifenestrate or with several ectooecial pseudopores. (Species with multiple ectooecial pseudopores need further study to determine if they are genuinely congeneric with Figularia .)

Distribution. Korean and Japanese waters of Korea Strait, 37–119 m depth.

Jullienula Bassler, 1953