Gymnolaemate Bryozoans in Fresh and Brackish Water of South Korea: Occurrence, Taxonomical Remarks and Zoogeographical Implications

Abstract

The present census on freshwater bryozoans in the Han River, Geum River and in lentic water bodies in Gangwon Province revealed three gymnolaemate species. Two of them-Hislopia prolixa Hirose and Mawatari, 2011 and Victorella pavida Saville Kent, 1870 were recorded for the first time from South Korea. Paludicella articulata (Ehrenberg, 1831), on the other hand, had already been documented from a few sites since 1941. The bryozoans, all belonging to the order of Ctenostomata, were found on a variety of substrates in freshwater (H. prolixa and P. articulata) and brackish habitats (V. pavida). Hislopia prolixa had recently been established as a new species and this is the first record for an occurrence outside of Japan, where it had been newly described from Lake Biwa and nearby satellite lakes.