What is ectoproctan?

Ectoproctans, also known as Bryozoans or moss animals, are a phylum of aquatic invertebrates. They are colonial animals that live in a variety of marine and freshwater environments, ranging from shallow waters to the deep sea. A colony may consist of hundreds to millions of individuals, each of which is called a zooid.

Ectoproctans have a hard, calcareous exoskeleton that protects their soft body and internal organs. The zooids within a colony are connected by a network of tubes called the coelom, which allows nutrients and oxygen to be shared between them.

Ectoproctans feed on microscopic plankton and other organic matter that they filter from the water using a specialized structure called the lophophore. The lophophore is a circular or horseshoe-shaped structure that surrounds the mouth of each zooid and is equipped with ciliated feeding tentacles.

Ectoproctans reproduce sexually, with some colonies having both male and female zooids, while others have only females. Fertilization takes place within the body of the female zooid, and the resulting embryos are brooded within a special structure called the ovicell until they are ready to be released as free-swimming larvae.

Ectoproctans are an important component of many aquatic ecosystems, as they are a food source for many animals and can also act as a bioindicator of water quality. Some species can also cause problems, such as fouling on man-made structures like ships.