Inversiulidae
Encyclopedia
The Inversiulidae is a family within the bryozoa
n order Cheilostomata
. Colonies are often encrusting sheets on shells or rocks. The zooids are characterised by having an operculum
that opens in the opposite way to other cheilostome genera; i.e. the hinge is located at the 'top' (towards the growing edge) of the zooid.
Bryozoa
The Bryozoa, also known as Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals, are a phylum of aquatic invertebrate animals. Typically about long, they are filter feeders that sieve food particles out of the water using a retractable lophophore, a "crown" of tentacles lined with cilia...
n order Cheilostomata
Cheilostomata
Cheilostomata, an order of Bryozoa in the class Gymnolaemata, are exclusively marine, colonial invertebrate animals. Cheilostome colonies are composed of calcium carbonate and grow on a variety of surfaces, including rocks, shells, seagrass and kelps. The colony shapes range from simple encrusting...
. Colonies are often encrusting sheets on shells or rocks. The zooids are characterised by having an operculum
Operculum (bryozoa)
In the bryozoan order Cheilostomata, the operculum is a calcareous or chitinous lid-like structure that protects the opening through which the polypide protrudes....
that opens in the opposite way to other cheilostome genera; i.e. the hinge is located at the 'top' (towards the growing edge) of the zooid.