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Project Noah Nature School
Crisia sp.
Bryozoans can take on a variety of forms and covers a whole phylum. Most look like plants, but they are in fact animals (hence they are commonly known as moss animals). They are in fact colonies of little zooids, which are each specialised for a different task. I've added a close up so you can see the small details
Found this bryozoan washed up on the beach, and thought all the little details were amazing! Typical appearance of the Crisia spp., but I won't be able to narrow it down more than that without using genetic analysis!
Spotted on Feb 20, 2011
Submitted on May 24, 2011
4 Comments
Thanks for the comments Raavendra! Yes, they are quite unique and strange creatures!
Very unique.
Thank you Luc! Yes, they're odd animals :) I think this was still alive, just waiting for the tide to come back in and cover it up again! They don't move though, they just attach themselves to things - this one was attached to a rock, but you can't see it!
Cool these bryozoans :)) and very detailed! What a strange animal and very interresting. I wonder if he still lives when they find on the beach ? Does it move ? :)) If so it must be very slow with many smaller members hihihihi