Bryozoans Flashcards
Why are bryozoans given a name that literally means “moss animals”?
Because of their numerous tiny feeding tentacles, the fuzzy surface of a bryozoan colony often resembles that of moss, and some forms even are green, but they are not moss-they are animals!
Zoarium:
Skeleton of the entire bryozoan colony; may assume various growth forms, such as encrusting, massive, branching (bush-like or stick-like), etc.
Zoecium:
Body wall or skeleton iof individual bryozoan animal
Aperture:
Main opening in zoecium through which the animal brings in water & food
Operculum:
Hinged lid covering the aperture of some bryozoans (Cheilostomes)
Zooid:
Individual bryozoan animal; typically <1mm in diameter
Ancestrula:
Initial (sexually produced) zooid of the colony. (Bryozoan)
Kenozooids:
Individuals specialized for asexual budding of other zooids in the colony. (Bryozoan)
Gonozooids:
Individuals specialized for producing gametes (sex cells)
Autozooids:
Normal feeding individuals within the colony.
Draw a digram of the Bryozoan zoarium
7a
Life Habits and Paleoecology of Bryozoans:
- Sessile, epifaunal, benthic filter feeders (using a lophophore).2. Stenolaemates and Gymnolaemates live mainly in clear, shallow, normal marine water. 3. Often associated with articulate brachiopods & rugose corals in the Paleozoic. 4. Often associated with gastropods & pelecypods in the Mesozoic & Cenozoic.
Phylum Bryozoa:
Exclusively colonial invertebrates that live in a small colony (zoarium) of individuals (zooids), each of which lives in a tiny chamber (zoecium) and feeds by means of a lophophore; detailed taxonomy is based upon the microscopic shape of the zoecia and the zoecial apertures, as well as the macroscopic growth form of the zoarium.
Subphylum Ectoprocta:
Anus located outside the lophophre; mostly marine; the only bryozoan subphylum with a fossil record; Ordovician to Recent
Subphylum Ectoprocta Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Recent
Class Stenolaemata:
(“narrow throat”): Characterized by long, tubular, narrow, highly calcified zoecia, which continue to grow longer and longer throughout the life of the colony; Ordovician to Recent
Class Stenolaemata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Recent
Order Cryptostomata:
(“Hidden mouth”): Exemplified by the finger-like Rhombopora; Ordovician to Permian
Order Cryptostomata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Permian
Order Trepostomata:
(“change mouth”): Exemplified by the button-like Prasopora, the twig-like Dekayella, and also the common Batostoma, Eridotrypa, Hallopora, and Heterotrypa; Ordovician to Triassic
Order Trepostomata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Triassic
Order Fenestrata:
(“windows”): Exemplified by the lace-like Fenestella, Fenestrellina and Archimedes; Ordovician to Triassic
Order Fenestrata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Triassic
Order Cyclostomata:
(“round mouth”): Exemplified by the organpipe-like Idmonea; Ordovician to Recent
Order Cyclostomata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Recent
Class Gymnolaemata:
(“naked throat”): Characterized by box-like or cylinder-like enclosures around the zoecia, which remain a fixed size throughout the life of the colony; Ordovician to Recent
Class Gymnolaemata Geologic Range:
Ordovician to Recent
Order Cheilostomata:
(“lip mouth”): Exemplified by the bush-like Bugula and sheet-like Membranipora; Jurassic to Recent
Order Cheilostomata Geologic Range:
Jurassic to Recent
