Phylum: Bryozoa

Class: Gymnolaemata

Order: Cheilostomatida

Suborder: Ascophorina

Family: Phidoloporidae

Scientific name: Reteporella beaniana

 

Norwegian: nettmosdyr

(Skarnsundet - The Trondheim fjord / 33 meters / 11.09.2002)

Distribution: There are three species of Reteporella spp. living along the coast of Norway. They cannot be identified from photography. They prefer hard substrate, usually deeper than 20 meters.

Characteristics: This species build white, often with a shade of pink, colonies. The shape of the colony can be like a cup, a tree or a folded sheet. It rarely grow larger than 3 cm of height and 5 cm wide.  Sea slugs and sea spiders are often seen grazing on the R. beaniana.

All pictures: