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Celleporina decipiens or caliciformis?

Celleporina is a difficult genus in the bryozoan world. It forms colonies where the zooids bud on top of each other, and often form colonies that are quite large. The genus is recognized by the characteristic appearance of the ovicells and the (most often) pair of avicularia you can find by the orifice.

During our project we have found several Celleporina species, and possibly a new species for Norway! It is called Celleporina decipiens and is quite similar to another Celleporina species called Celleporina caliciformis. So it is perhaps not so strange that the species has remained "hidden" until now.

A photo collage with two electron microscopy images showing the two species. Celleporina caliciformis is the upper image and Celleporina decipiens is shown in the image at the bottom.
Fig 1. Electron microscope image of (A) Celleporina caliciformis and (B) Celleporina decipiens. Photo: Mali H. Ramsfjell

Fortunately, there are differences between the two species, and the most noticeable one is that the peristome/structure around the orifice (zooid opening) has a concave edge in Celleporina caliciformis which makes it relatively easy to see the orifice itself (Fig. 2), while in Celleporina decipiens the opening is more difficult to see because of a structure called a "mucro", which in fig. 3 you can see as a little "peak" in between the paired avicularia.

An electron microscopy image of Celleporina caliciformis.
Fig. 2. Close up of Celleporina caliciformis. Photo: Mali H. Ramsfjell
Electron microscopy image showing Celleporina decipiens.
Fig. 3. Close up of Celleporina decipiens. Photo: Mali H. Ramsfjell
Tags: Artsdatabanken, NorDigBryo, Bryozoa, Marine invertebrates, marine biology By Mali Hamre Ramsfjell
Published Oct. 23, 2025 1:23 PM - Last modified Oct. 23, 2025 1:24 PM