Lacy bryozoan

Description:

This is a beautiful species of bryozoan colony. Individuals in bryozoan (ectoproct) colonies are called zooids, since they are not fully independent animals. All colonies contain autozooids, which are responsible for feeding and excretion. Colonies of some classes have various types of non-feeding specialist zooids, some of which are hatcheries for fertilized eggs, and some classes also have special zooids for defense of the colony. Although zooids are microscopic, colonies range in size from 1 centimeter (0.39 in) to over 1 meter (3.3 ft). However, the majority are under 10 centimeters (3.9 in) across. The shapes of colonies vary widely, depend on the pattern of budding by which they grow, the variety of zooids present and the type and amount of skeletal material they secrete

Habitat:

Most marine species live in tropical waters at depths less than 100 metres (330 ft).The great majority are sessile. Encrusting forms are much the commonest of these in shallow seas, but erect forms become more common as the depth increases. Marine species are common on coral reefs. They are food for a variety of organisms: nudibranchs and other molluscs, echinoderms, arthropods and fishes.

Notes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triphyllozo...