Bryozoans, also called moss animals, are a phylum of simple, aquatic invertebrate animals, nearly all living in sedentary colonies and typically only about 0.5 millimeters long. They feed using a special structure called a lophophore, a crown of tentacles used for filter feeding, and the phylum divides into marine, freshwater and mostly-marine groups; most marine bryozoans live in tropical waters, though a few are found in oceanic trenches and polar waters, among roughly 5,869 living species currently recognized.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) System (Realm) Relationship to People Living or Extinct Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceTypically about 0.5 millimetres long, with a lophophore, a crown of tentacles used for filter feeding 1 Comparison
CITES Appendix Scientific Name Connections
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Bryozoa, Wikipedia
Introduction, opening sentence
The Bryozoa (also known as the Polyzoa, Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals) are a phylum of simple, aquatic invertebrate animals, nearly all living in sedentary colonies.
Introduction, second sentence
Typically about 0.5 millimetres (1⁄64 in) long, they have a special feeding structure called a lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles used for filter feeding.
Lead section
Bryozoans have spread diseases to fish farms and fishermen. Chemicals extracted from a marine bryozoan species have been investigated for treatment of cancer and Alzheimer's disease, but analyses have not been encouraging.
In Group: Bryozoans (Moss Animals), Lead
The Bryozoa (also known as the Polyzoa, Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals) are a phylum of simple, aquatic invertebrate animals, nearly all living in sedentary colonies.
View the Source2. Wikipedia: Bryozoa
WikipediaWikipedia article, diet descriptionQuote, Wikipedia article, diet description
5 millimetres long, they have a special feeding structure called a lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles used for filter feeding.
3. GBIF Species API
4. Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan Museum of Zoology): Animal Diversity Web: Bryozoa
Economic Importance for Humans: NegativeQuote, Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
A myxosporean parasite, Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae , is carried by some species of Bryozoa and causes proliferative kidney disease (PKD) in wild and farmed populations of salmonids
5. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ148134, descriptionView the Source 6. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Animalia
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 23
"cites_listing":"I/II/III/NC","eu_listing":"A/B/C/D/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":null,"class":null,"order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Animals","language":"EN"},{"name":"Fauna","language":"EN"},{"name":"Animaux","language":"FR"}],"cites_listings":[]
Wikidata: Bryozoa
- Wikidata Q148134, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
- Child Taxon Of: Spiralia, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon)
- In Biome: Kelp Forest, Introduction
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