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

Author(s)

Vieira, Leandro M. ^[1] ; Jones, Mary E. Spencer ^[2] ; Winston, Judith E. ^[3] ; Migotto, Alvaro E. ^[1] ; Marques, Antonio C. ^{[1, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Ctr Biol Marinha, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Nat Hist Museum, Dept Life Sci, London SW7 5BD - England

^[3] Virginia Museum Nat Hist, Martinsville, VA - USA

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 9, n. 4 APR 18 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 11

Abstract

The bryozoan genus Scrupocellaria comprises about 80 species in the family Candidae. We propose a hypothesis for the phylogenetic relationships among species assigned to Scrupocellaria to serve as framework for a phylogenetic classification using 35 morphological characters. Our results suggest that the genus Scrupocellaria is polyphyletic. Scrupocellaria s. str. is redefined according to four morphological features: vibracular chamber with a curved setal groove, ooecium with a single ectooecial fenestra, two axillary vibracula, and a membranous operculum with a distinct distal rim. Thus, the genus includes only 11 species: Scrupocellaria aegeensis, Scrupocellaria delilii, Scrupocellaria harmeri, Scrupocellaria incurvata, Scrupocellaria inermis, Scrupocellaria intermedia, Scrupocellaria jullieni, Scrupocellaria minuta, Scrupocellaria puelcha, Scrupocellaria scrupea, and Scrupocellaria scruposa. The monophyly of Cradoscrupocellaria is supported and five new genera are erected: Aquiloniella n. gen., Aspiscellaria n. gen., Paralicornia n. gen., Pomocellaria n. gen. and Scrupocaberea n. gen. Two other new genera, Bathycellaria n. gen. and Sinocellaria n. gen., are erected to accommodate two poorly known species, Scrupocellaria profundis Osburn and Scrupocellaria uniseriata Liu, respectively. Scrupocellaria congesta is tentatively assigned to Tricellaria. Fifteen species are reassigned to Licornia: Licornia cookie n. comb., Licornia micheli n. comb., Licornia milneri n. comb., Licornia curvata n. comb., Licornia diegensis n. comb., Licornia drachi n. comb., Licornia mexicana n. comb., Licornia pugnax n. comb., Licornia raigadensis n. comb., Licornia regularis n. comb., Licornia resseri n. comb., Licornia securifera n. comb., Licornia spinigera n. comb., Licornia tridentata n. comb., and Licornia wasinensis n. comb. Notoplites americanus n. name is proposed as a replacement name for Scrupocellaria clausa Canu \& Bassler. Three fossil species are reassigned to Canda: Canda rathbuni n. comb., Canda triangulata n. comb. and Canda williardi n. comb. A species is reassigned to Notoplites, Notoplites elegantissima n. comb. The generic assignment of eleven species of Scrupocellaria, including Scrupocellaria macandrei, remains uncertain. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50484-4 - Biodiversity and distribution patterns of the Medusozoa form the South-Western Atlantic
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/50242-5 - Dimensions of marine life: patterns and process of diversifications in planktonic and benthic cnidarians
• Grantee: Antonio Carlos Marques
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/24285-1 - Phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic revision of Scrupocellaria spp. (Bryozoa, Candidae): a morphological approach
• Grantee: Leandro Manzoni Vieira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• 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