top of page
bryozoan2.jpg

 Image Credit: GRID-Arendal (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) 

Watch a video on bryozoans here.

Bryozoa

Video Credit: Invertebrate Biology Video (YouTube Creative Commons License)

Chapter:
Bryozoans
(Ectoprocts / Moss Animals)

Chapter: Bryozoans: Welcome

Synapomorphies

What makes a bryozoan a bryozoan?

  • Bryozoans, also known as "moss animals," are small, colonial, aquatic invertebrates that belong to the phylum Bryozoa. They are characterized by their moss-like colonies that form on rocks, shells, and other underwater surfaces. Each individual in a bryozoan colony is called a zooid and has its own specialized functions, such as feeding, reproduction, or defense. Bryozoans feed by filtering tiny food particles from the water and reproduce both sexually and asexually. Bryozoans play an important role in marine ecosystems as sessile filter feeders and as part of the larger food web. They also contribute to the formation of reef structures and can provide habitat for other marine organisms. Bryozoans have a long fossil record, dating back to the Ordovician period, and are commonly used by paleontologists to date and correlate rock formations.

Chapter: Bryozoans: Text

Resources

Chapter: Bryozoans

Background Information

Total discovered species: 5000+
Distribution: Freshwater and marine environment

Commonly Associated Terms

bryozoa, ectoprocta

Evolutionary History & Adaptation

Coming Soon

Conservation and Threats

Coming Soon

Additional Resources

Coming Soon

Chapter: Bryozoans: List

Chapter Advisors and Contributors

Avatar 85

John Doe
PhD Entomology

Lead Researcher at Bugtopia

Avatar 84

James Doe
MSc Insect Pest Management

Termite Specialist

Avatar 104

Ann Doe
MSc Aquatic Entomology

Entomologist at BugTech

Chapter: Bryozoans: Our Team
  • LinkedIn

©2023 by Natural History Unfolds (NHU). Made by a Sabahan. Proud to be a Malaysian.
Information presented in NHU are only meant to inform and educate. We decline any responsibility for any inaccuracies, deficiencies or omissions in the information provided and shall not be held liable for any direct or indirect damages arise from the use or unavailability of the web page, or of any of the services offered. 
Vector arts in the forum are designed by upklyak from FreePikUnless indicated otherwise, other images, videos, and graphical illustrations used in this site are copyright-free materials acquired from sources that require no attribution - Wix's Media CollectionPixabay, Unsplash, Smithsonian Open Access, Pexels, and Free-Images.com. Images of clothed chimpanzee mascot generated using AI are properties of NHU.

bottom of page