A new subfamily of operculate stylasterine (Coelenterata: Hydrozoa) from the Subantarctic

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Abstract
A new species of Stylasterina is described, representing a new genus and new subfamily [ADELOPORINAE subfam. nov., ADELOPORA pseudothyron gen. et sp. nov.]. The distinguishing feature of the taxon is the presence of freely hinged opercula, 1 covering each gastropore, which is unique in the Stylasterina. Other coeleterates have opercula but none are freely hinged and interlocked as in Adelopora. Some cheilostome bryzoans have a similar, obviously highly convergent, structure. Even among the bryozoans the hinging mechanism is probably not inerlocked. The operculate stylasterine is only known from 4 seamounts in the Subantarctic South Pacific and southwest Atlantic, 1 of which supports a deep-water coral bank. The selection pressure of high predation density may have favored the development of a tightly fitted hinged operculum for defense of gastrozooids.

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