Cristatella bryozoan
Cristatella mucedo · Aquatic life
Underwater · Photo: Lamiot / CC BY-SA
Also called Caterpillar bryozoan, Cristatella mucedo, Creeping bryozoan
How to identify Cristatella bryozoan
- Flat, jellylike, caterpillar or ribbon shaped colonies about 1/2 to several inches long
- Rows of feathery tentacle crowns along the top
- Colony slowly glides along plants and rocks
- Round statoblasts with a ring of hooked spines
Similar species
Pectinatella forms large rounded jelly masses rather than small creeping strips. Leeches and flatworms move faster and have no tentacle crowns.
Profile
| Season | Late spring through fall; dies back in winter, leaving statoblasts. |
|---|---|
| Starts | Colonies appear as water warms in late spring |
| Depth | Shallow to moderate depths |
| How it spreads or reproduces | Spiny statoblasts carried by birds, water and equipment |
| Habitat | Clear, cool lakes and ponds on plants, rocks and logs. |
Why it matters in a lake
A harmless, unusual looking filter feeder that people sometimes report as a strange slug. It is a sign of fairly clear, clean water.
Where it is found
- Idaho: Rare
- Oregon: Rare
- Wyoming: Rare
Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Bryozoa |
| Class | Phylactolaemata |
| Order | Plumatellida |
| Family | Cristatellidae |
| Scientific name | Cristatella mucedo |
Plumatella bryozoans
Magnificent bryozoan
Daphnia (water flea)
Midge larvae (bloodworms)Need a hand?
Found it in your lake?
Send us a photo and we will identify it and tell you what it means for your lake.
Idaho / Wyoming (208) 501-4531Oregon (541) 280-0596