Bryozoans - "Moss Animals" - Sandy Hook, Brookdale College Ocean Institute, Sandy Hook, NJ

Sandy Hook's Bryozoans - The "Moss animals"

	Colonies of tiny Bryzoans (Moss animals) are easily overlooked on shells and seaweeds. This is an ancient Phylum of colonial animals and is abundant in the fossil records. Geologists use them to help date the age of rock formations.
This turreted moss-animal (Bugula) is covered with mud snail eggs.	Bugula is harvested, dried green, and sold in florist shops as "Irish" Sea Fern or Air Fern ("Never needs watering."). Of course it doesn't...It's dead sea animals!
(Right) Sea Mat (Membranipora) is common on rocks that are not buried by mud. Here it is surrounded by limey worm tubes. Read about both in Field Notes and Living on Limulus
Colonies are made of individual box-like zooecia. Each animal (zooid) has a tiny circlet of microsopic feeding tentacles called a lophophore that resembles a hydroid polyp. They are pictured on the surface of the Rubbery Bryozoan (Alcyonidium).	Read more about them in Field Notes and Living on Limulus.
Lacey Bryozoans can be found growing on almost anything on the bottom that isn't swimming or burrowing, like this covered mussel shell ...	...or Bugula on this mermaid's purse.

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