Apprehending novel biodiversity—fifteen new genera of Zealandian Bryozoa

Abstract

Fifteen new genera of cheilostome Bryozoa are described from the New Zealand biogeographical region, centred on Zealandia, between 29° and 59°S latitude from shallow coastal waters to abyssal depths. The new genera are:Cavelliella,Mangana,Recapitulator(Calloporidae),Microblestrum,Stolomicropora(Pyrisinellidae),Otomicropora,Rosemariella(Microporidae),Bioptica,Caesiopora(Romancheinidae),Cheilonellopsis(Lacernidae),Xenogma(Buffonellodidae),Bountyella(incertae sedis),Taylorius(Escharinidae),Fovoporella(Schizoporellidae) andRamicellepora(Celleporidae). Several new combinations are also recognized, i.e.Corbulella fossa,Fovoporella spectabilis,Kenaplousina canariensis,Taylorius incognitus,Taylorius masoni,Taylorius waiparaensisandXenogma rhomboidale. Ten of the new genera are nominally endemic to the New Zealand exclusive economic zone.RecapitulatorandMicroblestrum(on seamounts near the southern part of the Hjort Trench) andRosemariella(seamount in the Louisville Ridge) occur in extraterritorial waters,Xenogmaextends to Australia andTayloriusextends to South Africa.Tayloriusis also known from the Miocene andFovoporellafrom the Pliocene.RecapitulatorandManganahave plesiomorphies that are novel among Recent Calloporidae (respectively a costate ooecium and ‘pelmatoporine’ elongate adventitious interzooidal kenozooids) but which are found in some Cretaceous calloporids or cribrilinids.