A New Species and a New Record of Escharoides (Bryozoa: Gymnolaemata: Flustridae) in Korea

Two species from the genus Escharoides Milne Edwards, 1836, E. biseriatata and E. buffonellarioides n. sp. Were first found in Korean waters in this study. Their colonies were collected from two locations in the South Sea, Korea: Tongyeong Marine Ranch in 2004 and Daebyeon Port in 2009. Escharoides biseriatata shows a difference in the position of avicularia from the Chinese specimens. While avicularia are lateral to the orifice in Chinese specimens, the ones in Korean specimens seem to be located more latero-proximally. Since Escharoides biseriatata was reported as fouling bryozoans in China in 2001, this species first occurred at Daebyeon Port in Korea in this study. Escharoides buffonellarioides n. sp. is similar to E. adeonelloides in morphological features of zooids but is clearly distinguished by having the erect colonial form of small masses. With the addition of two species reported herein, four Korean Escharoides are recorded: E. biseriatata, E. buffonellarioides, E. excavata, and E. sauroglossa.