Bryozoan - Exidmonea atlantica

Characteristics:

The Tubuliporidae family seems to be under constant revision. Several new members have been added the recent years. Genetic studies have to performed for certain identification. It usually impossible to identify them from pictures alone. It is likely however that the species on the pictures is Exidmonea atlantica.

All members of the Tubuliporidae family build structures looking like small organ pipes. The zooid stretches out of a small opening at the end of a short tube, 1-2 mm long. E. atlantica forms fan-shaped colonies with irregular forked branches. The robustness of the branches depends on location. Larger fans are usually seen on sheltered locations.

Habitat:

I. atlantica is usually found on rocky substrate on any depth from 10 to more than 2000 meters.

Distribution:

This species seems to be a real globetrotter. There registration from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres, both from the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.