Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2015-05-27
Page range: 434–442
Abstract views: 35
PDF downloaded: 1

Two new species of the cheilostome bryozoan Cheilopora from the Aleutian Islands

Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Powstancow Warszawy 55, Sopot 81-712, Poland. Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
Department of Invertebrate Zoology and Aquatic Ecology, Biological Faculty, Perm State National Research University, Bukirev Street 15, GSP, Perm 614990, Russia.
Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, U.S.A.
Bryozoa taxonomy new species Cheilopora cormidial peristome Aleutian Islands

Abstract

Two new species of CheiloporaC. peristomata and C. elfa—are described from the shallow water around Adak and Amchitka of the Andreanof and Rat island groups of the Aleutian Islands. Zooids of both new species have cormidial peristomes, composed by the distal (originating from neighbouring zooid) and proximal lappets. In contrast to previously described species, the strongly elevated peristomial lappets defining the secondary orifice confer the overall shape of an incomplete circle with deep U-shaped proximolateral pseudosinuses. Depending on angle of view, this gives a campanuliform or trifoliate outline to the secondary orifice, by which the new species differ from congeners. Together with previous discoveries from the Aleutians, these two new Cheilopora species are indicative of incomplete knowledge of the marine biodiversity of the region, including the distinctive character of the bryozoan fauna. There is a need for intensification of taxonomic effort along the island arc.