Scutoplites clausus ( Busk, 1884 ), 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 : 330-331

Scutoplites clausus ( Busk, 1884) n. comb.

( Fig. 2 )

Menipea clausa Busk, 1884: 20 , pl. 4, fig. 5.

Notoplites marsupiatus : Harmer 1923: 351.

Scrupocellaria marsupiata : d’Hondt 1973: 1212.

Notoplites clausus : Souto et al. 2011: 38, figs 16–20; Berning & Spencer Jones 2023: 6.

Material examined. NHMUK 1887.12.9.83 (lectotype): Challenger , stn. 70, 38º25’N, 35º50’W, 3063 m, 26 Jun. 1873 (see Busk 1884 and Souto et al. 2011) ( Fig. 2 A–E ) . MNHN-IB-2008-6744: Noratlante PR 063, 36º48.5’N, 27º06’W, 1940 m, 3 Oct. 1969 ( d’Hondt 1973, as Scrupocellaria marsupiata ) ( Fig. 2F ).

Remarks. Menipea clausa was described by Busk (1884) for material collected by the Challenger Expedition west of the Azores at 3063 m depth. Shortly after the original description of the species, Jullien (1888) and Waters (1888) suggested that M. clausa was a junior synonym of Scrupocellaria marsupiata , and this synonymy was accepted by later authors (e.g. Calvet 1907; Harmer 1923; Prenant & Bobin 1966). This is the reason why the species was never cited again until its redescription as a different species by Souto et al. (2011). According to the latter authors, Notoplites clausus is characterized by elongated autozooids with orifices that are wider than long, a scutum that is longer than wide and has 8–10 short fissures along its outer margin, while there are none along its inner side, a small distolateral avicularium located basally and not visible in frontal view, and up to three distal spines in the outer distal angle and one in the inner angle. The mention of basal vibracula in this species (see Harmer 1923 as N. marsupiatus ) is surely due to confusion with the displaced lateral avicularia (see Souto et al. 2011 and above).

The record from about 130 km west of the island of Santa Maria at 1940 m depth by d’Hondt (1973, as Scrupocellaria marsupiata ) most probably corresponds to S. clausus n. comb., although the state of conservation of the original sample (MNHN-IB-2008-6744) is relatively poor as it is affected by Bynesian decay ( Fig. 2F ). However, its measurements match perfectly with those of the type specimens.

Considering the characters of the species, M. clausa is here included in Scutoplites n. gen.

Scutoplites clausus n. comb. is presently known only from a station several hundred kilometres west of the Azores at 3063 m depth and from south of the Azores at 1940 m depth.

Figures

FIGURE 2. Scutoplites clausus n. comb.A. Detail of the colony (NHMUK 1887.12.9.83, lectotype).B. Same, basal avicularium. C. Same, ovicelled zooid. D. Same, dichotomy. E. Same, detail of an autozooid with distal spines. F. Fragment of a colony (MNHN-IB-2008-6744).