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How does it look like?
It is a rigid colony, with its colour going from beige to light yellow. The branches are fragile, flat and bifurcated. The divisions are dichotomous (two) from the base and the ends are rounded. The different branches are organized forming different successive planes, which will give rise to the final shape of the colonia. The colony is formed by small cubicles, each of which contains a zooid (individual) with a lophophore (ciliated feather of approximately 2 mm, which has the functions of feeding, respiration and cleaning of the colony). Both zooids and lophophores are found on both sides of the branches.
Where does it live?
It is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It can be found in Spain and Portugal.
How does it feed?
To feed, it filters other small organisms that are suspended in the water. Diatoms (unicellular algae) are its main food. To do so, the ciliated tentacles create small currents that carry the microorganisms from the water to the mouth, which is located right in the center of the lophophore.
How does it reproduce?
It is able to reproduce sexually. Fertilized eggs are incubated in a small pouch called an ovipositor before being released. Subsequently, the egg becomes a swimming larva, which is ready to form a new colony, reproducing asexually. This asexual multiplication can also occur if a fragment of the bryozoan breaks off, or if the colony splits into several daughter colonies, which will grow in different directions.
Is a confusion possible?
Yes, this bryozoan can be easily confused with specimens of Smittina (Porella) cervicornis, since they have a very similar colony structure. To differentiate them we have to look at the base of the colony, which is more frequent and greenish in A. calveti.
Curiosities
· The different branches of the animal are perpendicular to the orientation of the main marine current in the area, in order to capture the maximum possible amount of food.
· The older parts, which are found at the base of the colony, do not have the characteristic yellow color, but are often green because they have been colonized by other microscopic organisms.
Taxonomy
Phylum: Bryozoa; Class: Gymnolaemata; Order: Cheilostomatida; Suborder: Neocheilostomatina; Infraorder: Ascophora; Section: Umbonulomorpha; Superfamily: Adeonoidea; Family: Adeonellidae; Genus: Adeonella
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