Diversity of Bryozoa along the coasts of Türkiye

The current status of bryozoan species distributed along the coast of Türkiye were revised and an updated checklist including 185 species (24 cyclostomatids, 20 ctenostomatids and 141 cheilostomatids) was presented. Cheilostomes largely prevail (141 species, 87 genera and 50 families) followed by cyclostomes (24 species, 15 genera and 9 families) and ctenostomes (20 species, 9 genera and 8 families) in bryozoan fauna of Türkiye. The distribution of species and genera highlights the Aegean Sea as the most diverse, hosting 146 species. In this study, Hornera frondiculata (Lamarck, 1816), Amathia verticillata (delle Chiaje, 1822), Bugulina fulva (Ryland, 1960), Tricellaria inopinata d'Hondt & Occhipinti Ambrogi, 1985, Parasmittina egyptiaca (Waters, 1909), Watersipora arcuata Banta, 1969, Watersipora subtorquata (d'Orbigny, 1852), Celleporaria aperta (Hincks, 1882), and Rhynchozoon neapolitanum Gautier, 1962 were recorded after the first checklist prepared for the coasts of Türkiye. A total of eight alien species, mainly introduced via shipping and the Suez Canal, were reported in this study.