The Bitectiporidae is a family within the

bryozoa Bryozoa (also known as the Polyzoa, Ectoprocta or commonly as moss animals) are a phylum of simple, aquatic invertebrate animals, nearly all living in sedentary colonies. Typically about long, they have a special feeding structure called a l ...

n order

Cheilostomatida Cheilostomatida, also called Cheilostomata, is an order of Bryozoa in the class Gymnolaemata. They are exclusively marine, colonial invertebrate animals. Cheilostome colonies are composed of calcium carbonate and grow on a variety of surfaces, ...

. Colonies are encrusting on shells and rocks or upright bilaminar branches or sheets. The zooids generally have at least one adventitious avicularia on their frontal wall near the orifice. The frontal wall is usually covered with small pores and numerous larger pores along the margin. The ovicell, which broods the

larva A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle. The ...

e internally, is double-layered with numerous pores in the outer layer, and sits quite prominently on the frontal wall of the next zooid.

Classification

* Family Bitectiporidae ** Genus '' Bitectipora'' ** Genus ''

Cribella ''Cribella'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Bitectiporidae. See also * List of prehistoric bryozoan genera This list of prehistoric bryozoans is an attempt to create a comprehensive listing of all genera that have ever been included ...

'' ** Genus '' Hippomonavella'' ** Genus '' Hippoporina'' ** Genus '' Hippothyris'' ** Genus '' Kermadecazoon'' ** Genus '' Metroperiella'' ** Genus '' Neodakaria'' ** Genus '' Nigrapercula'' ** Genus '' Parkermavella'' ** Genus ''

Pentapora ''Pentapora'' is a small genus of bryozoans in the family Bitectiporidae. Species The World Register of Marine Species lists the following species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an or ...

'' ** Genus '' Pseudoflustra'' ** Genus '' Schizomavella'' ** Genus '' Schizosmittina''

References

Cheilostomatida Bryozoan families Extant Eocene first appearances {{bryozoan-stub