Lagenipora lepralioides

Lagenipora cf. lepralioides (Norman, 1868)

(Fig. 14)

Celleporella lepralioides Norman, 1868: 222, pl. 7, figs 4, 5.

Lagenipora lepralioides: Hayward & Ryland 1979: 280, fig. 122; Hayward & Ryland 1999: 332, figs 154, 155a, b; Madurell et al. 2013: 130, figs 4d, 5a.

Material examined. MNCN 25.03/4313 and MNCN 25.03/4314: BV15, 96 m; coll. UMA; one living colony on the bryozoan Adeonellopsis aff. multiporosa, and one living colony on an unidentified bryozoan, respectively.

Description. Colony encrusting, small, with zooids irregularly arranged (Fig. 14A), encrusting shell fragments and other substrates (e.g. the bryozoan Adeonellopsis aff. multiporosa). Zooids growing vertically, convex, separated by grooves; frontal wall tubercular with 6–7 large [28–34–45 μm diameter (N 12, SD 5)], circular areolar pores (Fig. 14A, B). Primary orifice orbicular [L 97, W 90 (N 1)], sinus not marked (Fig. 14C). Peristome well developed hiding the primary orifice, cylindrical, smooth or finely granular, with some marginal spine-like projections, often broken (Fig. 14A, B, D). Avicularia absent. Ovicell small but prominent, placed on the peristome; a narrow, crescentic frontal area with few elliptical pores (Fig. 14D).

Remarks. According to Rosso & Di Martino (2016), only two Lagenipora species are reported from the Mediterranean Sea: L. lepralioides and L. sp. sensu Zabala & Maluquer (1988, figs 445, 446). The latter species has a minute avicularium associated with the peristome (absent in L. lepralioides), and the frontal area of the ovicell is flat, broad and with two pores near the corners. In the Alboran colonies, we observed a single ovicell, which apparently seems different from that of the nominal species. However, given that no other differences were observed, we refrain from introducing a new species until more colonies and more ovicells will be available.

Lagenipora lepralioides is a poorly known species, and was cited from the Western Mediterranean (Zabala & Maluquer 1988; Madurell et al. 2013) and the North Atlantic (Hayward & Ryland 1979; Hayward 1994; Reverter- Gil & Fernandez-Pulpeiro 2001). As reported by Madurell et al. (2013) and previous authors, this species seems to be associated with shell debris, as was the case in the samples collected on the Alboran platform.