A radical, novel design for a free-living bryozoan colony: Biselenaria placentula (Reuss, 1867)

A series of well-preserved specimens of the little-known Palaeogene species Biselenaria placentula (Reuss, 1867) warrant the designation of a new family of free-living cheilostome bryozoans, Biselenariidae n. fam. In contrast to the structural organization of all other free-living, lunulitiform cheilostomes, all zooids are enclosed almost completely by cuticular, exterior walls. Yet, like other lunulitiforms, the colony must be regarded as a highly integrated functional unit, as revealed through the unique, highly complex interior architecture. In creating the new monotypic family, the type species Biselenaria placentula is described in detail, while the ambiguous taxonomic status of the only other taxon, B. offa Gregory, 1893, is discussed. UUID: http://zoobank.org/6ad8a795-c45e-4619-b2bb-46916585fbd9