''Membranipora'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
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 ...
ns in the family
Membraniporidae
Membraniporidae is a bryozoan family in the order Cheilostomatida. '' Membranipora'' form encrusting or erect colonies; they are unilaminar or bilaminar and weakly to well-calcified. Zooids have vertical and basal calcified walls, but virtually n ...
. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''
Membranipora membranacea
''Membranipora membranacea'' is a very widely distributed species of marine bryozoan known from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, usually in temperate zone environments. This bryozoan is a colonial organism characterized by a thin, mat-like encrus ...
'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the
kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', ''L. hyperborea'', and ''Saccorhiza polyschides''.
Colonies of ''M. membranacea'' show different forms of
polyphenism
A polyphenic trait is a trait for which multiple, discrete phenotypes can arise from a single genotype as a result of differing environmental conditions. It is therefore a special case of phenotypic plasticity.
There are several types of polyphen ...
as spines, tower zooids, chimneys and stolons.
Reproduction
The eggs of ''M. membranipora'' develop into planktonic
cyphonautes
A cyphonautes is a larva of an ectoproct or bryozoan. It is triangular in profile with a heavily ciliated band called the corona at the base of the triangle and a sense organ at the apex (''cypho''-, bent; ''nautes'', sailor). The beating of coro ...
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 which is strongly triangular in outline and about 850μm x 600μm big.
Species
Species:
*''
Membranipora aborescens''
*''
Membranipora aculeata''
*''
Membranipora acuminata''
*''
Membranipora acuum''
*''
Membranipora aedificata''
*''
Membranipora aequalis''
*''
Membranipora aftonensis''
*''
Membranipora aftonia''
*''
Membranipora albensis''
*''
Membranipora albida
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora allita''
*''
Membranipora almerai''
*''
Membranipora alveolus''
*''
Membranipora ambigua''
*''
Membranipora ameghinoi''
*''
Membranipora americana''
*''
Membranipora ampla''
*''
Membranipora ancarteri''
*''
Membranipora angulosa''
*''
Membranipora aperta
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora aperta
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arborea
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arcana
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arcana
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arcifera
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arctica
''Membranipora'' is a genus of bryozoans in the family Membraniporidae. A typical example is the widely distributed species ''Membranipora membranacea'' that commonly encrusts seaweeds, particularly fronds of the kelps ''Laminaria digitata'', '' ...
''
*''
Membranipora arenulata''
*''
Membranipora areolata''
*''
Membranipora argus''
*''
Membranipora artini''
*''
Membranipora atabekjani''
*''
Membranipora aviculifera''
*''
Membranipora baccata''
*''
Membranipora baculina''
*''
Membranipora bellis''
*''
Membranipora bemensis''
*''
Membranipora benjamini''
*''
Membranipora berthelseni''
*''
Membranipora biarritziana''
*''
Membranipora bifoliata''
*''
Membranipora bioculata''
*''
Membranipora bipunctata''
*''
Membranipora bispinosa''
*''
Membranipora boulei''
*''
Membranipora bramensis''
*''
Membranipora branscombensis''
*''
Membranipora bruennichi''
*''
Membranipora brunnea''
*''
Membranipora bueltenensis''
*''
Membranipora bulbillifera''
*''
Membranipora californica''
*''
Membranipora calveti''
*''
Membranipora camillae''
*''
Membranipora caminosa''
*''
Membranipora canalifera''
*''
Membranipora canui''
*''
Membranipora canui''
*''
Membranipora capillimargo''
*''
Membranipora cauveri''
*''
Membranipora cavernifera''
*''
Membranipora celsospinata''
*''
Membranipora cenomana''
*''
Membranipora cervicornis''
*''
Membranipora chyngtonensis''
*''
Membranipora cingulata''
*''
Membranipora claudata''
*''
Membranipora clavicella''
*''
Membranipora claviformis''
*''
Membranipora clio''
*''
Membranipora cochlearis''
*''
Membranipora combesi''
*''
Membranipora commixta''
*''
Membranipora complanata''
*''
Membranipora composita''
*''
Membranipora conficiens''
*''
Membranipora contexta''
*''
Membranipora contracta''
*''
Membranipora convexa''
*''
Membranipora coronata''
*''
Membranipora crassimargo''
*''
Membranipora crespinae''
*''
Membranipora cristallina''
*''
Membranipora cubitalis''
*''
Membranipora cuckmerensis''
*''
Membranipora cuculligera''
*''
Membranipora cyclopora''
*''
Membranipora cyclostoma''
*''
Membranipora deborahae''
*''
Membranipora declivis''
*''
Membranipora dennanti''
*''
Membranipora dimorphocella''
*''
Membranipora disjuncta''
*''
Membranipora distefanoi''
*''
Membranipora dolina''
*''
Membranipora dorbignyana''
*''
Membranipora dubia''
*''
Membranipora dugossonei''
*''
Membranipora dutertrei''
*''
Membranipora duvergieriae''
*''
Membranipora eastonensis''
*''
Membranipora ebeidii''
*''
Membranipora echinata''
*''
Membranipora eleanorae''
*''
Membranipora elizabethiensis''
*''
Membranipora elliptica''
*''
Membranipora endozooecialis''
*''
Membranipora eocena''
*''
Membranipora evanescens''
*''
Membranipora excavata''
*''
Membranipora falloti''
*''
Membranipora famelica''
*''
Membranipora fannia''
*''
Membranipora fascelis''
*''
Membranipora fastigii''
*''
Membranipora faustina''
*''
Membranipora faviola''
*''
Membranipora fecampensis''
*''
Membranipora fenestralis''
*''
Membranipora fenestrella''
*''
Membranipora fissura''
*''
Membranipora fistula''
*''
Membranipora flabellata''
*''
Membranipora flabellata''
*''
Membranipora flicki''
*''
Membranipora fluonia''
*''
Membranipora fonteia''
*''
Membranipora fornicina''
*''
Membranipora fossata''
*''
Membranipora fossulifera''
*''
Membranipora frontalis''
*''
Membranipora fulcra''
*''
Membranipora galeria''
*''
Membranipora galvia''
*''
Membranipora gardiana''
*''
Membranipora gentili''
*''
Membranipora gerana''
*''
Membranipora germana''
*''
Membranipora gharanensis''
*''
Membranipora gigantea''
*''
Membranipora gigantissima''
*''
Membranipora girondina''
*''
Membranipora globulosa''
*''
Membranipora granti''
*''
Membranipora gravensis''
*''
Membranipora harmeri''
*''
Membranipora hastingi''
*''
Membranipora hebens''
*''
Membranipora hennei''
*''
Membranipora heterospinosa''
*''
Membranipora hexagona''
*''
Membranipora hursleiensis''
*''
Membranipora hyadesi''
*''
Membranipora impolita''
*''
Membranipora impressa''
*''
Membranipora impressata''
*''
Membranipora inaequalis''
*''
Membranipora incurvata''
*''
Membranipora inornata''
*''
Membranipora insultans''
*''
Membranipora intricata''
*''
Membranipora irregularis''
*''
Membranipora isabelleana''
*''
Membranipora kayeum''
*''
Membranipora kiowana''
*''
Membranipora kischenewensis''
*''
Membranipora krimskojensis''
*''
Membranipora lacrymopora''
*''
Membranipora laevigata''
*''
Membranipora laevissima''
*''
Membranipora lata''
*''
Membranipora leo''
*''
Membranipora ligeriensis''
*''
Membranipora ligulata''
*''
Membranipora limbata''
*''
Membranipora limburgensis''
*''
Membranipora longifissa''
*''
Membranipora longipes''
*''
Membranipora maastrichtensis''
*''
Membranipora magnispina''
*''
Membranipora malaccensis''
*''
Membranipora mamillaris''
*''
Membranipora mamillifera''
*''
Membranipora maplestonei''
*''
Membranipora margaritifera''
*''
Membranipora marssoni''
*''
Membranipora marssoniana''
*''
Membranipora maxima''
*''
Membranipora meandrina''
*''
Membranipora megapora''
*''
Membranipora membranacea
''Membranipora membranacea'' is a very widely distributed species of marine bryozoan known from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, usually in temperate zone environments. This bryozoan is a colonial organism characterized by a thin, mat-like encrus ...
''
*''
Membranipora meunieri''
*''
Membranipora meunieri''
*''
Membranipora minuscula''
*''
Membranipora morningtoniensis''
*''
Membranipora munda''
*''
Membranipora nanula''
*''
Membranipora nellioides''
*''
Membranipora nellioides''
*''
Membranipora nicklesi''
*''
Membranipora nitidula''
*''
Membranipora nobilis''
*''
Membranipora nordgaardiana''
*''
Membranipora operculata''
*''
Membranipora orbavicularia''
*''
Membranipora orlowi''
*''
Membranipora ornata''
*''
Membranipora osburni''
*''
Membranipora ossuaria''
*''
Membranipora ovalis''
*''
Membranipora ovata''
*''
Membranipora ovifera''
*''
Membranipora ovigera''
*''
Membranipora pachundakii''
*''
Membranipora pachytheca''
*''
Membranipora pallaryi''
*''
Membranipora palpebra''
*''
Membranipora papyracea''
*''
Membranipora parvicella''
*''
Membranipora parvula''
*''
Membranipora patellaris''
*''
Membranipora paucispinata''
*''
Membranipora pegma''
*''
Membranipora pererrans''
*''
Membranipora perincerta''
*''
Membranipora perspicata''
*''
Membranipora pertenera''
*''
Membranipora pervinquierei''
*''
Membranipora philostracites''
*''
Membranipora plebicola''
*''
Membranipora plicatella''
*''
Membranipora plicatelloides''
*''
Membranipora pollex''
*''
Membranipora polystachys''
*''
Membranipora pontpourqueyensis''
*''
Membranipora portus''
*''
Membranipora praetermissa''
*''
Membranipora pratensis''
*''
Membranipora princeps''
*''
Membranipora proboscinoides''
*''
Membranipora procurrens''
*''
Membranipora pseudelea''
*''
Membranipora pseudonormaniana''
*''
Membranipora pudica''
*''
Membranipora pulchella''
*''
Membranipora pygmaea''
*''
Membranipora pyriformis''
*''
Membranipora pyropersiata''
*''
Membranipora quadrata''
*''
Membranipora quadrata''
*''
Membranipora quadrifascialis''
*''
Membranipora ravni''
*''
Membranipora raymondi''
*''
Membranipora regularis''
*''
Membranipora reticularis''
*''
Membranipora reyti''
*''
Membranipora rimulata''
*''
Membranipora roemeri''
*''
Membranipora rotundicella''
*''
Membranipora royana''
*''
Membranipora rupensis''
*''
Membranipora rustica''
*''
Membranipora sandalina''
*''
Membranipora santonensis''
*''
Membranipora scanica''
*''
Membranipora scotneiensis''
*''
Membranipora seafordensis''
*''
Membranipora securigera''
*''
Membranipora selandica''
*''
Membranipora semilunaris''
References
* Okamura, B. and J.C. Partridge (1999). "Suspension feeding adaptations to extreme flow environments in a marine bryozoan." ''Biol. Bull.'' 196: 205–215
* Padilla, D. K. and C. D. Harvell (1996). "Inducible aggression and intraspecific competition for space in a marine bryozoan, ''Membranipora membranacea''". ''Limnol. Oceanogr.'' 41: 505–512
* Stricker, S. A., C. G. Reed & R.L. Zimmer (1988a). The cyphonautes larva of the marine Bryozoan ''Membranipora membranacea''. 1. General morphology, body wall, and gut. ''Can. J. Zool.'' 66: 368–383.
* Stricker, S. A., C. G. Reed & R.L. Zimmer (1988b). The cyphonautes Larva of the Marine Bryozoan ''Membranipora membranacea''. 2. Internal sac, musculature, and pyriform organ. ''Can. J. Zool.'' 66: 384–398.
Bryozoan genera
Cheilostomatida
{{bryozoan-stub