Taxonomic revision of the genus Scrupocellaria van Beneden (Bryozoa, Candidae)

Author(s)

Leandro Manzoni Vieira

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Biociências (IBIOC/SB)
• Defense date: 2012-12-03

Examining board members

Alvaro Esteves Migotto; Eduardo Carlos Meduna Hajdu; Paulo da Cunha Lana; Judith Ellen Winston

• Advisor: Alvaro Esteves Migotto; Judith Ellen Winston

Abstract

The genus Scrupocellaria sensu lato (Family Candidae) comprises about 92 species, 20 fossil and 72 Recent. Many of the species are morphologically similar or have been treated taxonomically as having a high degree of morphological plasticity, with distributions of many of the species being reported to be \"worldwide\". Despite the long taxonomic history of Scrupocellaria and its occurrence in habitats ranging from intertidal to deep water, taxonomic studies of the genus are scarce. Therefore the purpose of this study was: (i) to carry out a species survey of Scrupocellaria, (ii) to delimit the intraspecific morphological variations of species, (iii) to analyze the comparative morphology of Scrupocellaria in order to propose a hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships between species of the genus. This study included both colonies collected in various localities on Brazilian coast and material of non-Brazilian species deposited at scientific collections around the world. All specimens were studied by light microscopy. Some specimens were also chosen for study with the scanning electron microscope. Specimens studied included holotypes of 32 species, syntypes of 22 species and 1 lectotype. Some morphological characters were used for the first time to distinguish taxa, e.g. rhizoidal surface, size of abfrontal vibracula, and shape of lateral and frontal avicularia. The lectotype of Scrupocellaria reptans was selected to redescribe and define the identity of the type species of Scrupocellaria from specimens described by Carolus Linnaeus, and to show its distinction from a newly described species from North Sea by means of the shape of scuta, size of zooids and, occurence of rhizoids with retroussé hooks. Scrupocellaria jolloisii is reported by first time in the Atlantic Ocean and placed in the genus Licornia, a name resurrected to acommodate 9 species formerly placed in Scrupocellaria: Licornia annectens n. comb., Licornia cervicornis n. comb., Licornia cyclostoma n. comb., Licornia diadema n. comb., Licornia ferox n. comb., Licornia gaspari n. comb., Licornia longispinosa n. comb., Licornia macropora n. comb. e Licornia prolata n. comb. A new genus, N.gen.1, is described to include Scrupocellaria bertholletii. Twenty-six species, 19 of them described as new, are assigned to N.gen.1, and a taxonomic key for species of that genus is presented. A phylogenetic study using 35 morphological characters of 84 Candidae species suggests that the genus Scrupocellaria is a polyphyletic taxa and the genus N.gen.1 is a monophyletic taxa. Scrupocellaria \'sensu stricto\' is redefined according to four morphological features: vibracular chamber with curved setal groove, ooecium with a single ectooecial fenestra, two axillary vibracula and a membranous operculum with a distinct distal rim. Thus Scrupocellaria \'sensu stricto\' includes 10 species: Scrupocellaria aegeensis, Scrupocellaria delilii, Scrupocellaria harmeri, Scrupocellaria incurvata, Scrupocellaria inermis, Scrupocellaria intermedia, Scrupocellaria jullieni, Scrupocellaria minuta, Scrupocellaria scrupea, and Scrupocellaria scruposa. Five genera are erected to include other species previously assigned to Scrupocellaria; they are distinct in the shape of scuta and oral spines, the shape of vibracular chamber and the surface of ovicells. The study revealed a high diversity in some groups of Candidae and the necessity of additional studies on taxonomy and phylogeny of the family to provide a better understanding of distributions, morphological variation, and phylogenetic relationships between the taxa (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/10619-0 - Taxonomic review of species of Scrupocellaria van Beneden, 1845 (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from Atlantic
• Grantee: Leandro Manzoni Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate