Bryozoa from Cost Rica

Abstract

Twenty-three species of cheilostomes and one cyclostome from two localities on the Atlantic and Pacific sides of Costa Rica are described and illustrated. Two-thirds (16) of the species are considered poorly understood taxonomically. The bryozoan fauna of tropical America is probably less well understood than the literature suggests. Discussions of special interest are those ofthe genera Membranipora, Parellisina, Labioporella, Schizoporella, Escharina, Cigclisula, and Rhynchozoon, and of the higher taxa Bryozoa, Ectoprocta, Gymnolaemata, Eurystomata, Anasca, Ascophora, and Cyclostomata.