Distinguishing Characteristics |
Colony of polyps; resemble a reddish seaweed, bushy branching tufts, grows upright; color reddish purple, purple brown or dark red; the following characteristics can be seen with the use of a magnifier or dissecting scope: individuals in the colony (called zooids) are enclosed in rigid cup-like structures called zooecia (sing. zooecium); branches in the colony have double rows of zooecia, all facing the same direction, zooecia are stacked one above the other in each row; the rows are staggered so the tops of the zooecia come to about the middle of the zooecia in the other row; the zooecia have no spines on its outer edges although the outer corners are pointed; smooth white globular structures (called ovicells) sit atop the zooecia and contain the embryos of the colony. |
Similar Species |
Other species of Bugula are white or tan, have spines or bird-head like structures at the ends of the zooecia, and do not have the white globular ovicell structures. Red algae do not have zooids. |
Habitat |
Gulf and bay, attaches to hard structures |
Maximum Size |
bushy structure up to about 15 cm (6 in) in diameter |
Other Common Names |
brown bryozoan |
Previous Scientific Names |
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