Early Miocene coral reef-associated bryozoans from Colombia. Part I: Cyclostomata, Anasca and Cribrilinoidea Cheilostomata

This is the first of two comprehensive taxonomic works on the early Miocene (ca. 23-20 Ma) bryozoan fauna associated with coral reefs from the Siamana Formation, in the remote region of Cocinetas Basin in the La Guajira Peninsula, northern Colombia, southern Caribbean. Fifteen bryozoan species in 11 families are described, comprising two cyclostomes and 13 cheilostomes. Two cheilostome genera and seven species are new: Antropora guajirensis n. sp., Calpensia caribensis n. sp., Atoichos magnus n. gen. n. sp., Gymnophorella hadra n. gen. n. sp., Cribrilaria multicostata n. sp., Cribrilaria nixor n. sp., and Figularia bragai n. sp. Eight species are identified only at genus level and remain in open nomenclature. Of the species found, 27% have erect colonies and 73% encrusting colonies. Both types contributed to the reef framework and produced sediment. The observed bryozoan diversity was higher in the barrier reefs than in the lagoonal patch reefs. UUID: http://zoobank.org/5c8468ef-31b0-4e7e-ba93-60a2e2f30b76.

Automated summary

This study presents the first of two comprehensive taxonomic works on the bryozoan fauna associated with coral reefs from the early Miocene in the remote region of Cocinetas Basin in La Guajira Peninsula, northern Colombia. The study describes 15 bryozoan species in 11 families, with two new cheilostome genera and seven new species identified. The observed bryozoan diversity was found to be higher in barrier reefs compared to lagoonal patch reefs.