Gymnolaemata

class of bryozoans

Also known as: gymnolaemate

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June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Gymnolaemata is a class within the phylum Bryozoa, commonly known as moss animals. Bryozoans are aquatic invertebrates that form colonies composed of numerous connected units called zooids. The Gymnolaemata class primarily includes marine bryozoans and is characterized by a circular lophophore, a ring of ciliated tentacles used for feeding. This class is the most successful bryozoan group, with the order Cheilostomata being particularly prominent. Bryozoans reproduce both asexually through budding and sexually, with fertilized eggs developing into swimming larvae.1234

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moss animal
Annotated classification
Class GymnolaemataZooids cylindrical or squat, with a circular lophophore; no epistome; body wall sometimes calcified; nonmuscular; eversion of lophophore dependent on deformation of body wall by extrinsic muscles; zooids separated by septa or duplex walls; pores in walls plugged with tissue; new zooids produced behind…
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Class GymnolaemataZooids cylindrical or squat, with a circular lophophore; no epistome; body wall sometimes calcified; nonmuscular; eversion of lophophore dependent on deformation of body wall by extrinsic muscles; zooids separated by septa or duplex walls; pores in walls plugged with tissue; new zooids produced behind…
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moss animal
Budding
In the gymnolaemates, in which the zooids frequently are flattened, budding occurs as transverse septa form and cut off parts of the primary zooid (or any other parent zooid). As each bud enlarges to become a zooid, a polypide forms inside. In the order Cheilostomata, budding usually…
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In the gymnolaemates, in which the zooids frequently are flattened, budding occurs as transverse septa form and cut off parts of the primary zooid (or any other parent zooid). As each bud enlarges to become a zooid, a polypide forms inside. In the order Cheilostomata, budding usually…
Read More