Family: Membraniporidae |
Bocas Species Database Habitat: Found in sandy and sand-silt environments. Tend not to occur in sea grass, mangrove or coral environments Distribution: Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea Natural History Notes: Cupuladriids are an unusual group of cheilostome bryozoans. unlike most bryozoans whose colonies attach to the undersides of rocks, corals and shells, and maintain a sedentary life style fixed to the substrate, cupuladriids remain unattached and are free to move around. All bryozoans are composed of small, iterated box-like calcified zooids which form colonies of sometimes thousands of zooids through asexual budding. Zooids usually possess a tentacular feeding structure called a lophophore. In the Cupuladriids, some zooids have lost their lophophore and instead possess long stiff setae. The movement of these setae across the surface of the colony prevents the settlement and growth of algae and may inhibit grazing by fish and other animals. At the edge of the colony, which is often the shape of a chinese hat, the setae curve downwards and are able to lift the colony above the substratum. It is the integrated movement of these 'legs' that enables the motile habit of cupuladriids. Observations of cupuladriids in culture has shown that they are able to dig themselves out of sediment following burial. The mobility and ability to survive burial enable these bryozoans to survive in habitats where other bryozoans and sedentary filter feeders are absent. As a result, when cupuladriids are found they are often found in huge abundance. Depth: 7 - 300 m (though most concentrated 20-30) Characteristics: Members of the genera Cupuladria can be easily distinguished from their sister genera (Discoporella) by their lack of calcification on the frontal wall. |