Morphology of ctenostome bryozoans: 6. Amphibiobeania epiphylla.

ABSTRACT: Ctenostome bryozoans are unmineralized and mostly marine. Their lack of calcified skeletal features requires other characters to be considered for systematic and phylogenetic considerations. As a continuation of an ongoing series of studies, we herein investigate the morphology of Amphibiobeania epiphylla, a unique bryozoan inhabiting mangrove leaves that are highly exposed to tidal cycles and regular dry events according to the tidal cycle. Besides this interesting mode of life, the species was originally interpreted to be a weakly mineralized cheilostome bryozoan, whereas molecular data place it among ctenostome bryozoans. To elucidate the systematic and phylogenetic position of the genus and also find morphological adaptations to an extreme habitat, we investigated the morphology of A.

SUBMITTER: Schwaha T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9828531 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature