Bryopesanser puncturella, Tilbrook, Kevin J., 2012

Tilbrook, Kevin J., 2012, Review of the bryozoan genus Bryopesanser Tilbrook, 2006 (Escharinidae: Cheilostomata) with the description of 11 new species, Zootaxa 3165, pp. 39-63 : 51

Bryopesanser puncturella n. sp.

(Figures 26–28, Table 1)

Escharina pesanseris: Harmer 1957 (part): 998.

Material. Holotype (here selected): NHMUK 2000.2.23.9, Siboga Stn 260 (559B), 2.3 miles north and 63° west from north part of Nuhu Jaan, Kei Islands, 16+ 18.12.1899, 90 m. [Part of the Maluku Islands, Maluku Province, Indonesia.]

Description. Colony up to 20 mm 2 in area, consisting of ca 100 autozooids. Autozooids 0.50–0.70 x 0.50–0.65 mm, hexagonal or irregularly polygonal, distinct, separated by shallow grooves. Frontal shield relatively smooth, slightly convex, evenly perforated with hundreds of minute pores, areolar septular pores at each lateral and proximal angle. Primary orifice longer than wide, ca 0.12 x 0.10 mm excluding sinus, anter deeply arched, proximal bor- der sloping proximally from midline, condyles coarsely denticulate, drop-shaped sinus longer than wide. Oral spines 7, evenly spaced. Proximal peristome narrowly flared. Avicularia originating lateral to second pair of spines, rostra large, open ended distally, crossbar complete, distomedially directed, mandibles fan-shaped. Ovicell hyperstomial, producing a thickened proximal edge, a raised process frontally. Ovicellate zooids with 6 oral spines, the distalmost pair incorporated into ovicell.

Etymology. Latin punctura, holes; - ella, diminutive, alluding to the multitude of minute frontal pores.

Remarks. Bryopesanser puncturella n. sp. is characterised by the details of the primary orifice, with its border sloping proximally away from the midline, coarsely denticulate condyles, longer-than-wide sinus, and the narrow but flared peristome. The position of the avicularia is also characteristic, as is the almost smooth-looking frontal shield, with its multitude of minute pores.

Bryopesanser puncturella n. sp. differs from B. pesanseris in the shape of its oral condyles and the minute frontal pores it produces. Although B. puncturella n. sp. produces a flared peristome, it does not develop a peristomial mucro during ontogeny as seen in other Bryopesanser species. The production of a multitude of minute frontal pores is unique to B. puncturella n. sp. ( B. gardineri n. sp. has similar-sized pores but they are not as numerous.) Harmer (1957), in discussing the type specimen, noted that the surface was “porcellanous and imperforate” and suggested that it might belong to a species other than B. pesanseris sensu stricto.

Distribution. Bryopesanser puncturella n. sp. is represented only by a single specimen found in the Kei Islands, part of the Maluku Islands, Maluku Province, Indonesia.