You are here
Bryozoa
Electra dentata (Wood, 1844)
Nomenclature
-
Family: ElectridaeGenus: Electra
- holotype: B.M.(N.H.) Palaeont. Dept. B1631
SUMMARY
Colonies encrusting, uniserial, consisting of linear chains of zooids. Branch ramifications originate as typically paired buds. New branches diverge from parental branches at angles of 60-90°. The ancestrula and early growth stages are unknown.
Autozooids are typically 0.7 mm long, but range from 0.43-0.92 mm in length, 0.25-0.35 mm wide, and are pyriform in outline shape. The proximal gymnocyst forms a moderately long cauda containing numerous subcircular pits, about 15 µm in diameter, on its underside (these pits are visible as moulds in zooids preserved as internal casts). The opesia is longitudinally ovoidal to pear-shaped, approximately 0.25 mm long by 0.18 mm wide, with a narrow, orificial shelf at its distal end. Nine circumopesial spines are present, one medial spine and four pairs of spines arranged around the opesia as far distally as the level of the orificial shelf. When intact the spines are seen to taper and overarch the opesia, their tips close together and occasionally touching. Basal walls of the autozooids contain an uncalcified window, and distolateral pore chambers are present. Ovicells are lacking.
Avicularia are absent.