Schizoretepora pungens (Canu & Bassler, 1925)

Figs 9–10, Table 5

Schizellozoon pungens Canu & Bassler, 1925: 45–46, pl. IV, figs 1–3.

Schizoretepora longisetae Canu & Bassler, 1928: 51, pl. VI, figs 7–10.

Retepora imperati – Waters 1894: 262; 1925: 659.

Schizellozoon imperati – Canu & Bassler 1928: 49–50, pl. IV, fig. 10. — Barroso 1935: 378, fig. 6a–d.

Schizellozoon pungens – Canu & Bassler 1928: 50, pl. IV, fig. 9.

Schizoretepora imperati – Gautier 1962: 235–236.

Non Schizoretepora longisetae – Gautier 1962: 236–237.

Type material

Holotype

MOROCCO • 3 fragments; Moroccan coast; coll. Canu; labelled Schizellozoon pungens [specimen figured in original publication]; MNHN-IB- 2014-19.

Syntype

MOROCCO • 3 fragments; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IB- 2014-20 .

Other material examined

ALGERIA • 1 colony; Oran; sent to A.M. Norman by A.W. Waters; labelled Retepora imperati; NHMUK 1911.10.1.813 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; coll. Mr Alder; A.M. Norman leg.; labelled Retepora imperati; NHMUK 1911.10.1.814 • 3 fragments; same collection data as for preceding; st 54bv; coll. Canu; labelled Retepora imperati; MNHN-IB- 2014-29 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; coll. Calvet; labelled Retepora imperati; MNHN-IB- 2008-6052 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IB- 2008-982 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; MNHN-IB- 2008-983.

ITALY • 1 colony; Sicily, Palermo; Marquis di Monterosto leg.; coll. A.M. Norman; labelled Retepora imperati; NHMUK 1911.10.1.1374.

MOROCCO • 1 colony; st CX, 1926, R/V Vanneau exped.; coll Canu; labelled Retepora imperati; MNHN-IB- 2008-9955 • 1 colony; SW Alboran Sea; St. 1294; 3 Sep. 1958; R/V Calypso exped.; coll Gautier; labelled Retepora imperati; MNHN-IB- 2008-11299 • 1 colony; Catiglione 53, st. E; coll. Gautier; labelled Retepora imperati; NHMUK 1965.9.2.30 • 1 colony; Moroccan coast; St. XXXVII; R/V Vanneau exped.; 7 Jun. 1924; Canu and Bassler leg., coll. Canu; labelled Schizellozoon longisetae; MNHN-IB- 2008-14462 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; St. XLIII; 19 Jun. 1924; labelled Schizellozoon longisetae; MNHN-IB- 2008-14327 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; St. CXXVIII; 28 Aug. 1926; labelled Schizellozoon longisetae; MNHN-IB- 2008-14081 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; 9 Oct. 1925; labelled Schizoretepora pungens; MNHN-IB- 2008-14434 • 2 fragments; same collection data as for preceding; St, LXII; 110 m deep; 15 Aug. 1925; labelled Schizoretepora pungens; MNHN-IB- 2008-14680 • 1 colony; same collection data as for preceding; St. CXXVI; 27 Aug. 1926; labelled Schizoretepora pungens; MNHN-IB- 2008-14045 • 3 fragments; same collection data as for preceding; St. XXXI; labelled Schizoretepora pungens; MNHN-IB- 2014-31.

Description

Colony erect, regularly fenestrate (reteporiform); frontal faces bearing autozooids, abfrontal faces consisting of sheets of kenozooids. Branches thick, trabeculae with 3–6 longitudinal rows of autozooids arranged quincuncially. Fenestrae oval, 1–2 times as wide as trabeculae (Fig. 9A). Frontal aspect of colony very variable, from spinose ( longisetae type) to serrated ( pungens type) (see differences between Fig. 10G and H).

Autozooids longer than wide, convex, separated by distinct raised sutures. Frontal shield smooth ( longisetae type) (Fig. 9C) or finely rugose ( pungens type) (Figs 9D, 10B), with 2–5 areolae, more abundant in young zooids ( longisetae type).

Primary orifice semi-elliptical, longer than wide, distal rim with 16–18 (18–24 in pungens type) blunt, triangular denticles, proximal border with U-shaped sinus (wider than long) framed by two acute denticles that form a gutter on proximal peristomial rim, and flanked by smooth condyles, sloping towards edges of sinus (Fig. 9B).

Peristome variably developed following ontogenetic development. It expands proximally and laterally, but not distally (between spines), as two triangular lateral flaps, distinctly pointed (young zooids) (Fig. 9C, E), that become smoother with ontogeny (Fig. 9B, D, F).

Two to four long oral spines, articulated and carinate, with basal parts thickly fused in distal young zooids, one of them particularly large and thick, club-like (Fig. 9C, E). Spines fragile and easily broken, only two of their bases remaining in older zooids (Fig. 9B, D).

Three types of frontal avicularia. Adventitious avicularia with two shapes, oval (round distal mandible) and almond-like (triangular distal mandible), both irregularly present, scattered proximally to the orifice and variably directed, with slender crossbar and without columella (Figs 9F, 10 B–C). Giant vicarious avicularia on a large cystid (with 2–5 pores), in the middle of the frontal plane and at the basis of the fenestrae (Fig. 9G); rostrum triangular with hooked tip (Fig. 10A), variably (but never distally) directed, crossbar robust, without a columella (Fig. 9H).

Ovicell typically globular, longer than wide, hyperstomial in young zooids (Fig. 10 A–B), immersed with secondary calcification (Fig. 10C), surface smooth, imperforate, with large central fissure, widening at the base, non-cleithral.

Abfrontal layer slightly rugose, with large polygonal kenozooids separated by raised sutures and pores (Fig. 10D). Three types of abfrontal avicularia. Adventitious both oval and almond-like small avicularia (similar to those on the frontal), scattered around the kenozooids, variable in number (often more than 3) and orientation (Fig. 10 E–F). Giant vicarious avicularia typically located close to fenestrae, triangular, with thin and large mandibles, and often distally hooked (Fig. 10F). Base of colonies with numerous kenozooids bearing small oval avicularia.

Remarks

All material coming from the Mediterranean Sea previously identified as S. imperati (Busk) (except S. “ imperati ” sensu O’Donoghue & de Watteville 1939, see description below) as well as all material from the eastern Atlantic examined for S. longisetae belongs to S. pungens .

Differences between S. pungens and S. imperati (Busk) are explained above (see remarks for S. imperati). Schizoretepora pungens and S. aviculifera differ mainly on:

– shape and position of adventitious frontal avicularia: two types oval (Fig. 9F) and triangular, located and directed variably in S. pungens; only triangular, typically proximo-lateral to orifice and directed disto-laterally in S. aviculifera (Fig. 7E)

– shape and frequency of abfrontal avicularia, with two different shapes in S. pungens, triangular (always scarce and located at base of fenestrae) and oval, often numerous and scattered across kenozooids (Fig. 10 E–F); only triangular but often very numerous in S. aviculifera (Fig. 7G)

– frontal surface, smooth or slightly rugose in S. pungens (Figs 9C, 10C), and clearly nodular in S. aviculifera (Fig. 7E)

– number of areolae larger in S. aviculifera (Fig. 7E): 6–8 (commonly 5), instead of 2–5 (commonly 3) in S. pungens (Figs 9F, 10C)

– lower peristome in S. aviculifera (Fig. 7B) than in S. pungens (Figs 9E, 10C)