Chapter:
Bryozoans
(Ectoprocts / Moss Animals)

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.