Bryozoan

Bryozoa (Batostoma minnesotense )

Grab the object above with your mouse, using the combinations below.

Viewing Options	WF - Java based ICF - plug-in required; IE only 3DC - plug-in required; PC only

	This fossil is a moss animal under the phylum Bryozoa, also known as ectoprocts or sea mats, which are small aquatic organisms mainly inhabiting warm marine environments. These organisms live in a community interconnecting with each other to form tubular colonies, some consisting of millions of individuals. They form a protective home that encloses them, made out of chitin and/or calcium carbonate, giving them a tree-like branch structure anchored to the sea floor. They can have many different structures ranging from small and thin to massive and thick. These animals feed though filtration using a feeding structure called a lophophore, which is a tissue extension from the body in a tentacle like structure, surrounding its mouth. The lophophore is allowed passageway through a hole in the protective tunic called an orifice, allowing it to filter feed. Polygon counts: Original 100,126; 30,000 before compression Time: Ordovician Locality: St. Paul, Minnesota Specimen: UCD Teaching Collection P-2385
Data scanning, postprocessing, and preparation of this web page by: Johnny Chau

This fossil is a moss animal under the phylum Bryozoa, also known as ectoprocts or sea mats, which are small aquatic organisms mainly inhabiting warm marine environments. These organisms live in a community interconnecting with each other to form tubular colonies, some consisting of millions of individuals. They form a protective home that encloses them, made out of chitin and/or calcium carbonate, giving them a tree-like branch structure anchored to the sea floor. They can have many different structures ranging from small and thin to massive and thick. These animals feed though filtration using a feeding structure called a lophophore, which is a tissue extension from the body in a tentacle like structure, surrounding its mouth. The lophophore is allowed passageway through a hole in the protective tunic called an orifice, allowing it to filter feed.

Polygon counts: Original 100,126; 30,000 before compression
Time: Ordovician
Locality: St. Paul, Minnesota
Specimen: UCD Teaching Collection P-2385