The chief distinguishing character of the bryozoa is their U-shaped digestive tract, with a mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestine, and anus. Bryozoans reproduce both sexually and asexually. A larva hatches from a fertilized egg and metamorphoses into the primary zooid, or ancestrula. The ancestrula then produces one or more further zooids by budding. In this manner, the zoarium is created.
Bryozoans are mostly marine, but some species are estuarine or freshwater.
Bryozoa are the most abundant fossils in many marine limestones, calcareous shales, and mudstones. Bryozoa Diagnostic Taxonomic Characters Fan or screen-like shape with tiny apertures. Twig-like branches with tiny apertures. Bulbous or encrusting masses with tiny apertures. Fine, outward radiating striations on broken surface.