Family HASTINGSIIDAE Borg, 1944

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Introduction

This family was introduced by Borg (1944), for the genus Hastingsia, which Borg defined for three species, H. irregularis Borg 1944 (the type species), H. pygmaea, and H. gracilis (MacGillivray 1883). All three were described by Borg from Antarctic material, but his material identified as H. gracilis was apparently not compared with the type material of the species, and may need revision. Borg commented that H. gracilis was different from the other two species, and suggested that it might represent a separate genus.

H. gracilis is erect, with conjoined groups (or fascicles) of long narrow zooids forming ridge-like structures. The zooids separate from the groups towards the distal end, becoming free. The colony surface is marked with grooves between adjacent zooids, and with distinct growth ridges. The pseudopores are comparatively small. The gonozooids, described from Antarctic material by Borg (1944), are situated between the branches of the colony, and do not surround zooids. The ooeciostome is close to one of the zooids.

The family appears to be mainly Antarctic in distribution, with a minor occurrence in southern Australia (MacGillivray 1883).

Diagnosis

Colony well calcified, with erect groups of zooids forming ridges (fascicles). The gonozooids occur between branches and do not surround other peristomes.

General References

Borg, F. 1944. The stenolaematous Bryozoa. Further Zoological Results of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901-1903 3(5): 1-276

Macgillivray, P.H. 1883. Descriptions of new or little-known Polyzoa. Part 4. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 19: 287-293

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