Scutoplites burocraticus, Reverter-Gil & Souto & Berning, 2025

Reverter-Gil, Oscar, Souto, Javier & Berning, Björn, 2025, Unexpected diversity in North Atlantic deep waters hidden under Scrupocellaria marsupiata (Bryozoa: Cheilostomatida), Zootaxa 5618 (3), pp. 326-350 : 341-343

Scutoplites burocraticus sp. nov.

( Fig. 9 ; Table 6 )

Material examined. Holotype: MNHN-IB-2008-15692 : HYDROSNAKE, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Kane fracture zone , stn. HS17 (n°6), 23°32’N, 44°59’W (approx.), 2757 m, 6 Jul. 1988 (det. d’Hondt as N. marsupiatus ) ( Fig. 9 ).

Etymology. The name burocraticus is a tribute to bureaucracy, which gives us such good times. It is said that bureaucracy is the art of making the simple difficult by means of the useless (see also Discussion below).

Description. Colony erect, dichotomously branching, attached to the substrate by rhizoids. Branches formed by two series of alternating autozooids opening on one side only. Branching points composed of a single proximomedian autozooid and two distolateral ones. Autozooids very long and slender, relatively wider in their distal fourth. Distal half of autozooid turned outwards and projecting alternatively to right or left, producing a characteristic zigzag outline. Distal fourth of autozooid occupied by an oval membranous area, covered proximally by a convex flabelliform scutum that is semielliptical, longer than wide, and attached to the inner proximal angle of orifice; scutum margin almost merging with the circum-opesial gymnocyst, with about 9–13 radial fissures of variable length. Central imperforate area of scutum marked with concentric striations. The distal edge of scutum delimits the opercular area, which is wider than long and displaced towards the outer autozooid margin. Operculum thickly sclerotised. One small spine on the inner side of the orifice, inconstant. Outer distal angle of autozooids with one or two spines, the more proximal ones being generally thicker. Median autozooid in the branching point with one single spine located on the opposite side of the base of the scutum.

Adventitious avicularia of two kinds: one small, displaced towards the basal side of the autozooid and rarely seen in frontal view, with the triangular mandible obliquely directed proximally and outwards; another small avicularium on a raised cystid just proximally to scutum, its triangular mandible directed proximally and upwards. Mandibles in both avicularia hinged on inconspicuous condyles.

Only two broken ovicells present in the sample, presumably prominent, resting on the proximal part of the distal autozooid, inclined towards the branch midline, longer than wide, with a small proximomedian circular fenestra. The proximolateral ooecial margins extend towards mid-distance of lateral orifice rim, ovicell opening well arched above orifice.

An ancestrula was not observed.

Remarks. The material described here as S. burocraticus sp. nov. was collected by the HYDROSNAKE campaign in the Kane fracture zone (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) at 2757 m depth. Based on the label, the sample was originally identified by J.-L. d’Hondt as N. marsupiatus , but it does not seem to have ever been reported in any publication.

Scutoplites marsupiatus n. comb. differs in that the scutum is nearly as wide as long and with relatively long fissures, one single spine in each distal angle, and a large lateral avicularium, whereas in S. burocraticus sp. nov. the scutum is clearly longer than wide, the fissures are shorter, there are one or two stout outer spines, and the lateral avicularium is not visible in frontal view. Moreover, the operculum in S. marsupiatus n. comb. is as wide as long and the ovicell is very long, whereas in S. burocraticus sp. nov. the operculum is clearly wider than long, and the ovicell, although broken, seems to be much shorter. In S. saojorgensis n. comb. the orifice is also displaced towards the outer autozooid margin, but the scutum of this species is wider than long, with the fissures normally alternating between a long and a short one, it lacks spines, bears a visible lateral avicularium, and the ovicell has a triangular fenestra. Scutoplites clausus n. comb. has fewer and shorter fissures, which are absent in the inner margin of the scutum, the orifice is not laterally displaced, and the autozooids are rather straight, while in S. burocraticus sp. nov. the autozooids are more clearly bent, so that the branches show a zigzag shape. In S. reverteri n. comb. and S. hamartia sp. nov. the scutum is very different, with longer digital branch prolongations, among other differences. In S. virgulus sp. nov. the scutum is almost circular, nearly as long as wide, with fewer fissures, while they are absent in the inner edge of the scutum; the lateral avicularium is visible in frontal view; and there is one single inconstant spine in the outer angle. Finally, in S. azorensis sp. nov. the scutum is larger, with a much greater number of radial fissures, leaving a wide imperforated central area, the orifice is not displaced, and the ovicell is longer, with a drop-shaped fenestra.

At present, S. burocraticus sp. nov. is known only from the Kane fracture zone, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, at 2757 m depth.

Figures

FIGURE 9. Scutoplites burocraticus sp. nov. (MNHN-IB-2008-15692, holotype). A, B. Branch bifurcations; note the characteristical zigzag outline. C. Close up of two autozooids with two stout distal spines. D. Basal view of an autozooid with two distal spines and the basal avicularium. E. Two broken ovicells.