Phylum: Bryozoa

 

Norwegian: mosdyr

(Nautøy - Hordaland / 21 meters / 10.20.2004)

Moss animals or colonial. The gelatinous structures can be found attached to any submerged object, like algae or rocks. All colonies originate from a single animal or zooid. This original animal is usually a result of sexual formation, while the remaining colony descends from the original zooid by asexual formation. More than 1200 species of moss animals are registered. The taxonomy of the phylum is complex and depends largely on microscopic details. Moss animals are popular ingredients in the diet of many nudibranchs.