Cinclidia, Denisenko, 2018

Denisenko, Nina V., 2018, New Cheilostomata (Bryozoa) species from sublittoral and bathyal zones off the Faroe Islands, with some comments on allied taxa, Zootaxa 4375 (1), pp. 116-126 : 117-118

Genus Cinclidia n. gen.

Type species. Cinclidia aculeata n. sp. (see description below).

Etymology. Greek kinklis, grid. Gender feminine.

Diagnosis. Colony encrusting, multiserial, unilaminar. AutoZooids with smooth, narrow gymnocyst. Costal shield flattened, comprising c. 14 pairs of fused costae arranged in a radial pattern. Costae pinnate, lacking bifurcations, with 4‒6 intercostal foramina. Frontal surface of each costa armed by several short, thin spines, each with an apical pore (pelmatidium), spines shorter towards the centre of the spinocyst. Orifice transversely Dshaped with low peristome. First costal pair forming a suboral bar, wider and thicker than other costae. Four articulated oral spines in autoZooids, two in ovicellate Zooids. InterZooidal kenoZooids present. No avicularia. Ovicells terminal, prominent, cleithral. Ooecium globular, produced by the distal kenoZooid. Smooth ectooecium partly calcified, with broad membranous area (window). Visible area of calcified endooecium with numerous small pseudopores. Communication between Zooids via basal pore chambers.

Remarks. The most distinctive attribute of the new genus is the evenly pseudoporous area of the endooecium, under the membranous window in the ectooecial calcification. The genus is presently monospecific.