Skip to main content
Close

Moss Animal

Crisia sp.

Photo by LauraMaria
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

51.7938, 1.03589

Field Notes

Description:

Bryozoans can take on a variety of forms and covers a whole phylum. Most look like plants, but they are in fact animals (hence they are commonly known as moss animals). They are in fact colonies of little zooids, which are each specialised for a different task. I've added a close up so you can see the small details

Notes:

Found this bryozoan washed up on the beach, and thought all the little details were amazing! Typical appearance of the Crisia spp., but I won't be able to narrow it down more than that without using genetic analysis!

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)

Thanks for the comments Raavendra! Yes, they are quite unique and strange creatures!
Thank you Luc! Yes, they're odd animals :) I think this was still alive, just waiting for the tide to come back in and cover it up again! They don't move though, they just attach themselves to things - this one was attached to a rock, but you can't see it!
Cool these bryozoans :)) and very detailed! What a strange animal and very interresting. I wonder if he still lives when they find on the beach ? Does it move ? :)) If so it must be very slow with many smaller members hihihihi
Photographed
PublishedMay 24, 2011

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon