Scrupocellaria aegeensis Harmelin, 1969

Ramalho, Laís V., Rodríguez-Aporta, Raquel & Gofas, Serge, 2022, Preliminary account on the bryozoans of the Alboran platform (Western Mediterranean), with description of two new species, Zootaxa 5094 (1), pp. 53-91 : 70-71

Scrupocellaria aegeensis Harmelin, 1969

( Fig. 7 )

Scrupocellaria maderensis aegeensis Harmelin, 1969: 1195 , fig. 2 (5, 6).

Scrupocellaria aegeensis: Zabala & Maluquer 1988: 89 , fig. 161, 162, pl. 4c, d.

Scrupocellaria maderensis var. aegeensis: Zabala 1993: 564 .

Material examined. MNCN 25.03/4292 , MNCN 25.03/4293 : BV12, 112– 120 m; coll. UMA; three and one living fragments, respectively; all colonies fixed on other bryozoans (i.e. Adeonellopsis and a cyclostome). MNCN 25.03/4294 : BV13, 95–99 m; coll. UMA; one living colony attached to another bryozoan and two living fragments . MNCN 25.03/4295 : BV14, 96–100 m; UMA coll.; two living fragments . MNCN 25.03/4296 : BV15, 96 m; coll. UMA; two living fragments .

Description. Colony erect, delicate, dichotomically branched ( Fig. 7A ), with each branch consisting of two alternating longitudinal series of zooids, directed slightly outwards ( Fig. 7A, B ). Zooids elongate [L 302–340–420 (N 12, SD 31), W 99–143–168 μm (N 13, SD 19)]; elliptical to oval opesia occupying slightly more than 50% of the whole zooidal length [L 154–183–203 μm (N 15, SD 15)]; cryptocyst narrow and crenulate; 2–3 external and 1–2 inner spines; three spines (one on each side of the opesia and one disto-central) in the zooid at the bifurcation ( Fig. 7A ). Scutum situated just proximally to the inner spine; large, anchor-shaped, asymmetric, the distal border more reduced than the proximal one, covering a large part of the opesia ( Fig. 7A–C ). Frontal avicularium absent. Lateral avicularium well developed, directed slightly proximally; rostrum triangular, hooked at the tip (as the mandible), and serrated [L 56–73–97 μm (N 13, SD 13)] ( Fig. 7C ). Vibracular chamber on the proximal end of each abfrontal zooid ( Fig. 7D ), aligned disto-proximally, and two at the axil of the bifurcation, with a radicular pore at the base; setae short, measuring about the width of two zooids ( Fig. 7B ). Ovicell not observed.

Remarks. Scrupocellaria aegeensis was described by Harmelin (1969) from the Aegean Sea, while Zabala (1993) found some colonies off the Balearic Islands. Zooid size in the Aegean Sea specimens (L 400–450, W 120– 200 µm) is slightly larger than in the Alboran platform material. The Alboran material also differ in having zooids with two spines on the inner side instead of a single inner spine. The depth range of previous Mediterranean records is shallower (60–110 m) than that of the Alboran platform (95–120 m).

Figures

FIGURE 7. Scrupocellaria aegeensis Harmelin, 1969 (MNCN 25.03/4293). A. General view of the branch showing complete zooids and bifurcation. B. General view of a branch showing complete zooids and some vibracular setae. C. Detail of a zooid showing spines (3:2), incomplete scutum, lateral avicularium and setae from de distal and lateral zooids. D. Dorsal view showing vibracular cystid, setae directing to the frontal face of the branch, and radicular pores. Scale bars: A, B, 300 µm; C, 70 µm; D, 200 µm.