Family MECYNOECIIDAE Canu, 1918

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Introduction

Harmelin (1976) has maintained the family Mecynoeciidae and the genus Mecynoecia, both introduced by Canu (1918), for Pustulopora delicatula Busk (1875), a species originally collected by the 'Rattlesnake' from off Cape Capricorn, Queensland.

Colonies have erect branches, arising from an encrusting base. The autozooidal peristomes are long, and open on all sides of the branch. The gonozooids are simple, elongated and sac-like, and occur in the axils of the branch bifurcations. The terminal ooeciostome is raised, compressed proximo-distally, and has a flaring lip (Harmelin 1976).

The systematics of most Australian cyclostomes has received very little study, and one of the least known groups is the erect 'entalophorid' or 'pustuloporid' forms. These include, among others, M. delicatula, 'Diaperoecia' intricaria, Annectocyma australis, 'Bidiastopora' torquata, 'Entalophora' parasitica, and Bientalophora regularis. At present, it is difficult to be certain even of the family placement of many of these forms. At least some can be referred to the Annectocymidae.

Diagnosis

Colony well calcified, erect, arising from an encrusting base. Zooid peristomes opening on all sides of the branches. Gonozooids elongated, simple, sac-like, occurring in the axils of branch bifurcations. The ooeciostome is terminal, raised, with a compressed, flaring lip.

General References

Busk, G. 1875. Catalogue of Marine Polyzoa in the collection of the British Museum. Part 3. London : Trustees of the British Museum pp. 1-39.

Canu, F. 1918. Les ovicelles des Bryozoaires cyclostomes. Étude sur quelques familles nouvelles et anciennes. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 4 16: 324-335

Harmelin, J.-G. 1976. Le sous-ordre des Tubuliporina (Bryozoaires Cyclostomes) en Méditerranée. Écologie et systematique. Mémoires de l'Institut Océanographique, Monaco 10: 1-326

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