Membranipora dubia Busk, 1859
General description:
Busk’s description of this species (not to be confused with Flustra dubia Busk) remarked: “Though placed among the Membraniporae, it is extremely doubtful whether the fragment here described be a Membranipora, or even a Polyzoon at all” (Busk, 1859, p. 32). Scanning electron micrography of the type specimen shows no features supporting the placement of M. dubia in the Bryozoa. Instead, the ridged fragment is more likely to be a piece of a barnacle plate. Although not a bryozoan, Membranipora dubia is included in this database for the purpose of completeness.
Distribution:
Pliocene, Late Zanclean–Early Piacenzian, Coralline Crag Formation, Suffolk, UK.