Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis ( Fransen, 1986 ) VIEIRA & JONES & WINSTON, 2013

VIEIRA, LEANDRO M., JONES, MARY E. SPENCER & WINSTON, JUDITH E., 2013, <p class = " HeadingRunIn " align = " left "> <strong> <em> Cradoscrupocellaria </ em>, a new bryozoan genus for <em> Scrupocellaria bertholletii </ em> (Audouin) and related species (Cheilostomata, Candidae): taxonomy, biodiversity and distribution </ strong> </ p>, Zootaxa 3707 (1), pp. 1-63 : 12-15

Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis ( Fransen, 1986) n. comb.

( Figs 4–5 , Table 1)

Scrupocellaria bertholletii Audouin : Osburn 1940: 386 (in part). [ Bermuda and Puerto Rico]

Not Acamarchis Bertholletii Audouin, 1826: 241 . [ Egypt]

Scrupocellaria bertholletii Audouin : Osburn 1947: 20. [N Colombia and Aruba Island]

Scrupocellaria curacaoensis Fransen, 1986: 45 , figs 15a–d. [ Bonaire and Curaçao]

Material examined. Holotype. RMNH 02975 , balsam slide (figured by Fransen 1986), Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station Cur 82.033, 9 August 1982, Curaçao, Fuikbaai, eastern part, 1.5–3 m. Paratypes. NHMUK 2012.7 .1.12 ( Fig. 4A–C ), dry (part of specimen RMNH 02975 , in alcohol), same data as holotype . RMNH 03034 , wet, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station Cur 82.081, 17 September 1982, Curaçao, Spaanse water, entrance, Spaanse Lagoen, 0–0.5 m . RMNH 03035 , wet, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station Cur 82.066, 10 September 1982, Curaçao, Fuikbaai, eastern part, 0– 1 m. RMNH 03036 , Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station Cur 82.066, 10 September 1982, Curaçao, Fuikbaai, eastern part, 0– 3 m. RMNH 03037 , wet and slide, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station PWH.1620, 14 October 1967, Curaçao, Piscadera Baai, Carmabi pier, 0– 1 m. RMNH 03038 , wet and slide, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station PWH.1037A, 21 April 1949, Curaçao, Spaanse water, Spaans Lacoen, south side, 0–1.5 m . RMNH 03040 , wet, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station PWH.1218, 3 March 1955, Curaçao, Schottegat on Venezuelan destroyer, 0– 2 m. RMNH 03041 , wet, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station PWH.1049C, 13 September 1948, Klein Bonaire, sandy reef, 1– 3 m. RMNH 03064 , wet and slide, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis, Charles H.J.M. Fransen det., Station Car. 1629, 17 November 1968, Curaçao, Spaanse water, inner bay, Jan Sofat, islet, 0– 1 m. Additional material. MCZ 112 , wet ; USNM 559180 , balsam slide ; USNM 559181 , balsam slide, Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Osburn & Hutchins det. 1942, US Coast Survey Steamer Blake, Station 12, 1877–78, C.P. Patterson, Gulf Stream and Gulf of Mexico Exploration , Alexander Agassiz leg., 24°34’ N, 83°16’ W, 65.8 m (36 fms) . USNM 559182 ( Fig. 4D–F ), Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Roger Cuffey det., Bermud-4-A-4303, Bermuda . USNM 559183 ( Fig. 5A–B ), balsam slide, Scrupocellaria bertholleti, Allan Hancock Foundation, Sta. 2381 , off Guanica Harbor , Porto Rico , about 9 m. USNM 559184 , balsam slide, Scrupocellaria bertholletii, R.C. Osburn & & L.W. Hutchins det., Station 2381, Porto Rico . USNM 559185 , balsam slide, Scrupocellaria bertholleti , Bermuda , H. Pratt coll. USNM 559186 , Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Roger Cuffey det., Bermud-12-A-4333, Bermuda . USNM 559187 , Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Roger Cuffey det., Bermud-10-B-4321, Bermuda . USNM 559188 , Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Roger Cuffey det., Bermud-10-B-4331, Bermuda . USNM 559189 , Scrupocellaria regularis, Roger Cuffey det., Bermud- 4-9-A-4304, Bermuda . SBMNH 96400 ( Fig. 5C–D ), balsam slide, Scrupocellaria bertholletii, Allan Hancock Foundation, R.C. Osburn Collection, ‘ Velero III’, Station A 18-39, 10 April 1939, San Nicholas Bay , Aruba Island , 12°21'28" N, 70°4'45" W. USNM 16934 (found with Scrupocellaria regularis ), dry, Continental Shelf Associatioes, 18 July 1981, Station 01, Expedition SW Florida Shelf Cr. II, Gulf of Mexico, off Florida, 26°45’46” N, 82°43’07” W, 24 m.

Diagnosis. Chitinous joints passing across proximal end of opesia in zooids C and D at bifurcation; Zooids with 1–2 inner and 3 outer distal spines, an additional distal spine often present; scutum often present, bi- or trifurcated, sometimes bifurcated and branched again; distolateral avicularium absent; vibracular chamber almost rounded and small; rhizoid with retroussé hooks; ooecium with pores linked by internal sutures.

Redescription. Colony erect, branched, with branches comprising 3–11 zooids. Internodes slightly curved; chitinous joints pass across proximal end of opesia in outer zooids at bifurcation (zooids C and D), and across proximal gymnocyst of inner zooids (F and G). Autozooids elongate, tapering proximally and slightly curved laterally. Oval opesia occupying distal half of zooidal length; cryptocyst inconspicuous around opesial rim. Scutum often present, inserted at midline of inner edge of opesia, bifurcated 60–120 degrees, often trifurcated, reaching beyond midline of opesia. 5–7 distal spines, long and unbranched; proximalmost inner spines often directed toward opercular area; axial zooid with 6 spines. No distolateral avicularium. Frontal avicularia dimorphic: small frontal avicularium with triangular mandible; large frontal avicularium with triangular curved rostrum proximally directed, with hooked tip; mandible slightly curved and hooked distally. A vibracular chamber present on basal surface of each zooid, inconspicuous in frontal view; chamber of vibraculum almost circular, with large rhizoidal foramen on its proximal outer corner; setal groove transverse to internode axis, straight, with smooth setae longer than one autozooid length. Single axial vibraculum without rhizoidal foramen. Rhizoids tubular, with some retroussé hooks. Ovicells hyperstomial, globular; ectooecium perforated by 7–15 tubular rounded pores linked by internal sutures; two inner and three outer orificial spines in ovicelled zooids.

Remarks. Osburn (1940) first observed the absence of lateral avicularia in Caribbean specimens of Scrupocellaria bertholletii . Fransen (1986) used the absence of lateral avicularia, as well the branching pattern of frontal scuta (sometimes trifurcated) and the shape of frontal avicularia to describe a new species, Scrupocellaria curacaoensis . Examination of specimens identified as Scrupocellaria bertholletii from the Caribbean ( Osburn 1940, 1947) revealed two distinct species in Caribbean waters: Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis ( Figs 4–5 ) and C. floridana n. sp. ( Fig. 9 ), distinguished by the shape of the scutum and the frontal avicularia. Examination of specimens deposited at AMNH identified as Scrupocellaria bertholletii from Jamaica also revealed a species resembling C. curacaoensis and C. floridana in the absence of lateral avicularia; these specimens are here described as C. jamaicensis n. sp. ( Fig. 14 ). They are distinguished by zooid size and the shape of avicularia and ovicells.

Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis is morphologically similar to C. bertholletii in the shape of the vibracular chamber, but differs from it in the branching pattern of the scutum, absence of distolateral avicularia, and in having elongate frontal avicularia and ooecia with tubular pores.

Distribution. Caribbean Sea: Gulf of Mexico, Aruba Island, Bermuda, Bonaire, Colombia, Curaçao and Puerto Rico; 0– 66 m.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis (Fransen, 1986) n. comb. A–C, NHMUK 2012.7.1.12, paratype, Curaçao. D– F, USNM 559182, Bermuda. A, Frontal surface of branch; note the forked scutum in some zooids. B, Frontal surface of branch bifurcation; note ovicelled zooids. C, Abfrontal surface of branch. D, Frontal surface of branch; note the bi- and trifurcated scuta. E, Close-up of two zooids; note the trifurcated scutum. F, Abfrontal surface of branch; note the vibracular chamber with transverse setal groove.

FIGURE 5. Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis (Fransen, 1986) n. comb. A–B, USNM 559183, Porto Rico. C–D, SBMNH 96400, Aruba Island. A, Frontal surface of branch with two ovicells. B, Abfrontal surface of branch bifurcation. C, Frontal surface of branch; note one zooid with trifurcated scutum and two zooids with forked scutum. D, Abfrontal surface of branch; note the joints passing across the opesia in outer zooids at the bifurcation.

FIGURE 9. Cradoscrupocellaria floridana n. sp. A–F, NHMUK 2010.12.6.2, holotype, Florida. A, Frontal surface of colony. B, Frontal surface of branches with ovicelled zooids. C, Close-up of a branch; note the dimorphic frontal avicularia and the ooecia with pores having raised edges. D, Close-up of ovicelled zooid and one frontal avicularium; note the forked scutum with forked, acute tips. E, Abfrontal surface of colony. F, Abfrontal surface of branch bifurcation.

FIGURE 14. Cradoscrupocellaria jamaicensis n. sp. A–F, Uncatalogued specimen from Rio Bueno, Jamaica (type locality). A, Frontal surface of colony. B, Frontal surface of branch bifurcation; note a zooid with trifurcated scutum at upper right. C, Close-up of a branch with ovicelled zooids. D, Close-up of two zooids; note the presence of a forked scutum in the zooid at right of the branch. E, Close-up of ovicelled zooid and one gigantic frontal avicularium. F, Abfrontal surface of branch.