APHOTOMARINE

An educational resource dedicated mainly to the photography
and diversity of marine life that can be found in coastal waters
and intertidal areas of Great Britain and Ireland by David Fenwick.

A-P-H-O-T-O Wildlife Stock Image Library
Vesicularia spinosa (Linnaeus, 1758) - A ctenostome bryozoan (Bryozoan images)
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Ctenostome bryozoan
Vesicularia spinosa
- branching habit 1

Ctenostome bryozoan
Vesicularia spinosa
- branching habit 2

Ctenostome bryozoan
Vesicularia spinosa
- under microscope 1

Ctenostome bryozoan
Vesicularia spinosa
- under microscope 2

Ctenostome bryozoan
Vesicularia spinosa
- autozooid 1

The species here was found in human refuse collected during trawling for fish. A single specimen was found entangled in a mass of fishing line and small dead Sea Fans landed at Newlyn, Cornwall, 19.12.17. It is believed it was trawled off the western end of the north coast of Cornwall.

This species is infrequently recorded, it occurs subtidally and on the lowershore on rocks and shells and in bryozoan turf.
Ref: Synopses of the Brtish Fauna (New Series), Ctenostome Bryozoans by P.J. Hayward.

Kind thanks to Marco Faasse and Hans De Blauwe for his help in determining this hydroid-like species of bryozoa.

Vesicularia spinosa Ctenostome Bryozoan Images
The main objective of this website is in furthering environmental awareness and education through the medium of photography. To increase awareness and access to the wildlife of the region and help
people find and identify it. Sometimes the difference between species is obvious but many species can only be determined by observing microscopic characteristics that are specific to any one species.