<p class="HeadingRunIn" align="left">Cradoscrupocellaria, a new bryozoan genus for Scrupocellaria bertholletii (Audouin) and related species (Cheilostomata, Candidae): taxonomy, biodiversity and distribution

Abstract

A new genus, Cradoscrupocellaria n. gen., is erected for Scrupocellaria bertholletii (Audouin, 1826), reported as widespread in tropical and subtropical waters. Here we select a neotype of this species in order to establish its identity and distinguish it from morphologically similar species. We include redescriptions and figures of additional species now assigned to this new genus: Cradoscrupocellaria curacaoensis (Fransen, 1986) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria hirsuta (Jullien & Calvet, 1903) n. comb., and Cradoscrupocellaria macrorhyncha (Gautier, 1962) n. comb. Five additional species are as-signed to the genus: Cradoscrupocellaria ellisi (Vieira & Spencer Jones, 2012) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria nanshaensis (Liu, 1991) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria reptans (Linnaeus, 1758) n. comb., Cradoscrupocellaria serrata (Waters, 1909) n. comb., and Cradoscrupocellaria tenuirostris (Osburn, 1950) n. comb. Eighteen new species are described: Cra-doscrupocellaria aegyptiana n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria arisaigensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria atlantica n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria calypso n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria floridana n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria galapagensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria gautieri n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria gorgonensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria hastingsae n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria insularis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria jamaicensis n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria lagaaiji n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria macrorhynchoides n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria makua n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria marcusorum n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria normani n. sp., Cradoscrupocellaria odonoghuei n. sp., and Cradoscrupocellaria osburni n. sp.

Evidence for Polyphyly of the Genus Scrupocellaria (Bryozoa: Candidae) Based on a Phylogenetic Analysis of Morphological Characters

“…This genus is characterized by the presence of (i) articulate distal unbranched spines, (ii) a branched scutum arising from midline of the inner edge of the opesia, (iii) a trapezoidal vibracular chamber, (iv) single axial vibraculum, and (v) an ooecium with some ectooecial pores [24]. Character 16 (the shape of the scutum arising at the median region of opesia) is plesiomorphic for character state 1, found in majority of species, while character state 2 and 3 are apomorphic and have an independent origin.…”

“…Hooked rhizoids have been considered a phenotypical variation among Scrupocellaria species [26]. This character, however, distinguishes some species of Candidae [23], [24], [37].…”

“…Species of Scrupocellaria have also been reported on artificial substrates [15]–[17]. A few species have been considered exotic and introduced for different localities [18]–[21], but a reassessment of their introduction status and a refined taxonomy suggest the taxa named may be part of species complexes [22] or belong to different genera [23], [24].…”

“…One of the previously synonymized genera, Licornia , has since been treated as a distinct taxon and its generic status restored [23]. Recently, Vieira et al [24] used some morphological features to erect a new genus, Cradoscrupocellaria , for some additional species previously assigned to Scrupocellaria and described 18 new species.…”

A new species of Cellaria (Bryozoa: Cheilostomata) from northeastern Brazil, with a tabular identification key to the Atlantic species

“…shaped like an arrowhead, Table 1). As known in other bryozoan genera (e.g., Vieira et al 2013, the analysis and characterization the morphology of the ovicell/ooecia are needed to make a taxonomic assignment. In the absence of fertile colonies, it is difficult to assign specimens to any known species using only autozooidal characteristics.…”