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Home > Invertebrates
> Bryozoans & Foraminiferans
Updated 6/8/2023
Phylum
Bryozoa
Moss
Animals or Bryozoans
| Bryozoans are minute colonial animals that feed by filtering plankton
from seawater. They have a fleshy or rigid calcified structure in
which the individual zooids live. Unlike corals the bryozoan
animal has a separate mouth & anus and the zooid's 'box' has a lid
for protection. Many bryozoans are members of
the fouling community in bays and harbors and have been dispersed
throughout the world on the bottom of ships. Hawaii has many
introduced and native species. Positive identification of many
species is only possible after microscopic examination. Preyed upon by sea slugs and
grazing fishes. |
CIRCUMGLOBAL / HAWAII
| Bugula dentata
BLUE BRYOZOAN
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Savignyella lafontii
LAFONT'S BRYOZOAN
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Schizoporella errata
ERRATIC BRYOZOAN |
Schizoporella
unicornis
ORANGE ENCRUSTING BRYOZOAN |
Amathia distans
WHITE BUSHY BRYOZOAN |
Parasmittina spp.
LUMPY CRUST BRYOZOAN
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INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
| Disporella violacea
VIOLET
ENCRUSTING BRYOZOAN
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Reteporellina denticulata
ORANGE LACY BRYOZOAN
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| Various species
BRYOZOAN
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Mesonea radians
TUNING FORK BRYOZOAN |
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Triphylozoon spp.
CHEX BRYOZOAN
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NORTHEAST PACIFIC
| Celleporella sp.
NORTHERN STAGHORN BRYOZOAN
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Phylum
Foraminifera
Foraminiferans
| Foraminiferans, often shortened to Forams in conversation, are small
abundant amoeba-like organisms that secrete a rigid case or test while the
protoplasm becomes highly elaborated. A diverse range of shapes and
habits exist and the hard worn tests of several species comprise a
majority of beach sand. |
INDO-PACIFIC / HAWAII
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Marginopora vertebralis
RED BRANCHING FORAM |
Miniacina spp.
WHITE BRANCHING FORAM
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Miniacina miniacea
RED BRANCHING FORAM
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