On some Smittinidae (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) from Bahia, northeastern Brazil, with the description of a new species

TL;DR: Five little-known cheilostome smittinid species of Bahia State, northeast Brazil are presented, which can provide evidence regarding the passive dispersal ability of these animals and their potential for bioinvasion along the Brazilian coast.

Abstract: Here, we present the taxonomy of five little-known cheilostome smittinid species of Bahia State, northeast Brazil, assigned to Hemismittoidea Soule & Soule, 1973, Smittina Norman, 1903, and Smittoidea Osburn, 1952. Specimens of four species previously reported in the studied area were reassessed: Hemismittoidea asymmetrica Ramalho et al., 2018, Smittina affinis (Hincks, 1862), Smittoidea evelinae (Marcus, 1937), and Smittoidea reticulata (MacGillivray, 1842). Hemismittoidea asymmetrica here is considered a junior synonym of Hemismittoidea corallinea Soule & Soule, 1973. The last three species here are assigned to Smittina smittiella Osburn, 1947, Smittoidea numma (Marcus, 1949) comb. nov., and Smittoidea complexa sp. nov., respectively. An additional species, Smittoidea pacifica Soule & Soule, 1973, is recorded for the first time in Brazil. Diagnostic characters of Smittinidae genera and species are discussed, and new combinations are proposed. Most of the taxa reported here were collected from natural substrata, mainly from coral reefs and rhodoliths, and also from artificial structures such as experimental plates, which can provide evidence regarding the passive dispersal ability of these animals (e.g., as hull fouling) and their potential for bioinvasion along the Brazilian coast.