Bryozoa facts: more than just a blob in the water | Animal Fact Files

Bryozoans may look like plants, other animals like sponges and tunicates, or even alien egg cases, but these animals are classified in their own phylum. There are over 5,000 living species of bryozoans and even more known from fossils! About 50 species of bryozoans live in freshwater. They may look like blobs of gelatin, fanning or branching plants, and even bunches of noodles under the water. They live in water from fresh to marine. They are colony organisms and the tiny animals that come together to form the colony that is known as the bryozoan organism is are called zooids. They may be connected to each other by fibrous tissues or shared bloody fluid. Scientific Name: Phylum - Bryozoa Range: worldwide Size: zooids up to 4mm; colony may grow over 3 feet (91cm) Diet: planktonic animals and plant material Lifespan: indefinite ✨ Animal Fact Files Patreon Supporters get early access to videos, get their video requests moved to the top of our request list, and more! ✨ 👉   / animalfactfiles   You can learn more on: Twitter -   / animalfactfiles   Facebook -   / animalfactfiles   --- Credits via YouTube: Thomas Schwaha -    • Plumatella casmiana   ;    • Bryozoa coronate larva   ;    • Pectinatella   Invertebrate Biology Videos -    • Bryozoa   Bruno C. Vellutini -    • Developing bryozoan embryos (animal views)   Earth Rocks! -    • Branching Bryozoan   Smithsonia Environmental Research Center - https://www.flickr.com/photos/serc_bi... ; https://www.flickr.com/photos/serc_bi... Bernard DUPONT - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bernied... Karl Anshanslin - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... ; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi... NSO - https://vimeo.com/25460026 nathanaellentz - https://freesound.org/people/nathanae... Schokraie E, Warnken U, Hotz-Wagenblatt A, Grohme MA, Hengherr S, et al. (2012) - doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0045682.g001 Research Credits:    • Creature Feature: Freshwater Bryozoan      • Zoology Lab 08 - Bryozoans      • Bryozoa (Ectoprocta)- Invertebrate Paleont...   https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/bryozoa/bry... https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/... https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/... https://isgs.illinois.edu/outreach/ge... http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2014/...