Observations on living colonies of Retiflustra spp. (Cheilostomata: Anasca) from the central Queensland shelf, Australia
Arnold, P.W. (1987). Observations on living colonies of Retiflustra spp. (Cheilostomata: Anasca) from the central Queensland shelf, Australia. Cah. Biol. Mar. 28(1): 147-157
In: Cahiers de Biologie Marine. Station Biologique de Roscoff: Paris. ISSN 0007-9723; e-ISSN 2262-3094, more
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| Abstract |
Two species of the sand-dwelling anascan bryozoan Retiflustra co-occurred on the central Great Barrier Reef shelf. R. schoenaui, reported for the first time from Australia, was found at the shallower sites (6-28 metres depth). R. cornea occurred along most of a transect (12.5-43 metres depth) across the central shelf, but most regularly at sites over 22 metres deep. In situ observations showed that, contrary to previous inferences, the conical colony was oriented apex upwards, supported 5-10 mm above the sediment by cuticular rootlets. The lophophores extended downwards toward the sediment and outwards into fenestrae which occurred regularly on the spiral layers of the colony. The latero-frontal cilia on tentacles of many extended lophophores created a strong upwards current through the fenestrae. |
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