Bugula simplex Hincks, a Newly Recognized Polyzoan from British Waters

Abstract

IN September 1957, a species of Bugula was discovered at Holyhead, North Wales, which did not conform to any of the species described by Hincks¹. Reference to the literature showed that it resembled the B. flabellata of American authors, although it was, in fact, clearly not B. flabellata (Thompson). Osburn² identified the American form as B. flabellata and noted that Woods Hole material did not conform completely to the description given by Hincks¹, although he evidently did not appreciate the full extent of the differences. Since the species is common in the Woods Hole area on submerged piles² and has been the subject of extensive experiments, notably by Lynch³, its proper identification is of importance.