Camptoplites tubifera Silén, 1941

Martino, Emanuela Di, 2023, Scanning electron microscopy study of Lars Silén’s cheilostome bryozoan type specimens in the historical collections of natural history museums in Sweden, Zootaxa 5379 (1), pp. 1-106 : 44-47

Camptoplites tubifera Silén, 1941

( Figs 21 , 22 ; Table 20)

Camptoplites tubifera Silén, 1941: 111 , figs 158–167.

Material examined. Lectotype (designated here) UPSZTY 2460 B ( Fig. 21 ), the best preserved specimen among the syntypes UPSZTY 2460 A–D, Sagami (the steep), Japan; depth 150 m; sea-bottom made of sand and clay. Leg. Prof. S. Bock 1914 . Paralectotypes: the remaining specimens. Paralectotype UPSZTY 2460 A is illustrated in Fig. 22 ; paralectotype D was missing from the vial .

Description. Colony erect-flexible with bifurcating unilaminar, biserial branches ( Fig. 21A ); additional branches arising from lateral tubular kenozooids originating from the dorsal side of an autozooid and connected to the dorsal side of another autozooid of the neighbouring branch ( Figs 21A, B , 22A, B ); tubular kenozooids 70–80 µm in diameter ( Figs 21A, B , 22A, B ).

Autozooids elongate and slender (mean L/ W 3.61), arranged in alternating biserial rows, proximal end rounded and tapered, distal end straight and truncated, distal corners pointed ( Fig. 22A, C, D ); frontal surface entirely occupied by the frontal membrane and the opesia; opercular area not clearly defined.

Short-pedunculate bird’s-head avicularia of two types: type 1 elongate and slender with a robust, downwardly hooked rostrum ( Figs 21A, C , 22D ); type 2 globular, with a short, sharply bent pointed rostrum ( Figs 21C–E , 22F ); avicularia single or double (and possibly of two different types), placed at about mid-length or more distally on the lateral sides of autozooids.

Ovicells globular, placed on the dorsal side of the zooid, occupying its distal third ( Fig. 22A, C ); proximal half of the ooecium made of a smooth, cup-like ectooecium, the distal half showing a striated endooecium ( Fig. 21E ).

Remarks. Silén (1941) described the avicularia of this species as being either short- or long-pedunculate. Although the latter type has not been observed here, their presence cannot be ruled out given the poor preservation of the specimens, often collapsed. The observation of circular attachment scars (see arrow in Fig. 22C ) laterally in some autozooids corroborates the hypothesis that the lack of associated avicularia is also due to poor preservation and detachment.

Genus Caulibugula Verrill, 1900

Figures

FIGURE 21. Camptoplites tubifera Silén, 1941. Lectotype (designated here) UPSZTY 2460B, Japan. A. General view of the specimen. B. Close-up of an autozooid emanating from the connecting branch tube. C. Close-up of ovicellate zooids with pedunculate avicularia of two types, narrow and elongate and rounded. D, E. Close-ups of rounded avicularia. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B, D, E = 200 µm; C = 500 µm.

FIGURE 22. Camptoplites tubifera Silén, 1941. Paralectotype UPSZTY 2460A, Japan. A. General view of the specimen. B. Close-up of an autozooid emanating two connecting branch tubes. C. Close-up of an autozooid. Arrow indicates a putative attachment scar left by an avicularium. D. Close-up of a narrow, elongate avicularium. E. Close-up of two ovicells. F. Close-up of a rounded avicularium. Scale bars: A = 1 mm; B = 500 µm; C, D, F = 150 µm; E = 200 µm.