On some colorful bryozoans from Brazil: reevaluation of Aptonella violacea Canu & Bassler, 1928 and a new species of Cosciniopsis Canu & Bassler, 1927

Zootaxa. 2024 Sep 6;5506(2):245-260. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.5506.2.5.

Abstract

Gigantoporidae Bassler, 1935 is a cheilostome bryozoan family comprising five genera, including the colorful genus Cosciniopsis Canu & Bassler, 1927, considered a senior synonym of Aptonella Canu & Bassler, 1928. The taxonomy of Aptonella has historically been considered confusing due to the colored zooecia, which suggests an affinity with other genera such as the stomachetosellid Cycloperiella Canu & Bassler, 1923. Here, the type species of Aptonella, A. violacea Canu & Bassler, 1928, is reevaluated and compared with other Gigantoporidae, to provide a new combination: Cycloperiella violacea n. comb. For the reassessment of Gigantoporidae, the type species of Gigantopora Ridley, 1881, G. lyncoides Ridley, 1881 is redescribed, and a new species of Cosciniopsis, C. viridis sp. nov. is described from Brazil. Characteristics of Cy. violacea, including a double calcified ooecium (lepralielliform type) and the acleithral-type aperture in ovicelled zooids, are distinct from other Gigantoporidae. This distinction supports the synonymization of Aptonella with Cycloperiella, which is here transferred to the family Bitectiporidae MacGillivray, 1895.

MeSH terms

  • Animal Distribution*
  • Animal Structures / anatomy & histology
  • Animal Structures / growth & development
  • Animals
  • Body Size*
  • Brazil
  • Bryozoa* / anatomy & histology
  • Bryozoa* / classification
  • Male
  • Organ Size