bryozoan

[ brahy-uh-zoh-uh n ]
/ ˌbraɪ əˈzoʊ ən /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the Bryozoa.

noun

Also called moss animal. any sessile marine or freshwater animal of the phylum Bryozoa, forming branching, encrusting, or gelatinous mosslike colonies of many small polyps, each having a circular or horseshoe-shaped ridge bearing ciliated tentacles, occurring on algae or on shaded objects.
Compare ectoproct, entoproct.

Origin of bryozoan

First recorded in 1870–75; Bryozo(a) + -an

British Dictionary definitions for bryozoan

bryozoan
/ (ˌbraɪəˈzəʊən) /

noun

any aquatic invertebrate animal of the phylum Bryozoa, forming colonies of polyps each having a ciliated feeding organ (lophophore) Popular name: sea mat

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Bryozoa
Popular name: polyzoan, ectoproct

Word Origin for bryozoan

C19: from Greek bruon moss + zōion animal

Scientific definitions for bryozoan

bryozoan
[ brī′ə-zōən ]

Any of various small aquatic invertebrate animals of the phylum Bryozoa that are capable of forming vast mosslike or branching colonies attached to seaweed or hard surfaces. Bryozoans reproduce by budding and feed on minute particles of plankton that they capture with tentacles. They are probably related to the phoronids and are the only animal phylum that does not appear in the fossil record until the early Ordovician Period.