Family LOPHOPODIDAE Rogick, 1935

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Introduction

Colonies are globular, with thick, colourless walls and polypides that project outwards a considerable distance. The statoblast is basically a floatoblast with a wide, flat annulus. Buoyancy is achieved only after the statoblast has been dried (Wood & Marsh, 1996). Colonies are capable of slow locomotion, and asexual reproduction by fragmentation. Three genera are currently recognized (Lophopodella, Lophopus, and Asajirella), although the distinguishing criteria are not well developed. Lophopodella carteri, also described by Bretnall (1920) as L. picta, is the only species known to occur in Australia.

Diagnosis

Colonies are globular, with thick, colourless walls and polypides that project outwards a considerable distance. The statoblast is basically a floatoblast with a wide, flat annulus. Colonies are capable of slow locomotion, and asexual reproduction by fragmentation.

General References

Bretnall, R.W. 1920. On a new species of Lophopodella (Polyzoa). The Australian Zoologist 1: 248-251

Wood, T.S., & Marsh, T.G. 1996. The sinking floatoblasts of Lophopodella carteri (Bryozoa: Phylactolaemata). pp. 383-389 in Gordon, D.P., Smith, A.M., & Grant-Mackie, J.A. (eds). Bryozoans in Space and Time. Wellington : NIWA.

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