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How does polyembryony occur in living stenolaemate bryozoans?
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moss animal
Eurystomella bilabiata, a moss animal from the Order Cheilostomata.
In living Stenolaemata, polyembryony occurs within specialized female zooids known as gonozooids, which serve as spacious brood chambers.1
During the development of the embryo, a young embryo squeezes off groups of cells that differentiate into secondary embryos. These secondary embryos can subsequently form tertiary embryos. Through this process of polyembryony, a single fertilized egg can result in the development of many larvae within a single brood chamber.1