New free-living bryozoans from the northwest European Chalk

Abstract

Twelve new species of free-living cheilostome bryozoans are described from the white chalk of Denmark and northern Germany: Lunulites pseudocretacea, L. microstoma, L. vespertilio, L. conulus, L. patens, L. immensa, L.foveolata, Pavolunulites parva, P. schmidi, P. insolita, P. moenensis, P. danica. Eleven species are restricted to the Maastrichtian, while a single species also range down into Upper Campanian strata. The systematic status of the genera Lunulites and Pavolunulites in the Cretaceous is briefly discussed.