| Phylactolaemata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Zooid of a Phylactoaemata colony | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Bryozoa |
| Class: | Phylactolaemata |
| Order: | Plumatellida |
| Families | |
Phylactolaemata[1] is a class of the phylum Bryozoa whose members live only in freshwater environments. Like all bryozoans, they filter feed by means of an extensible "crown" of ciliated tentacles called a lophophore, and like nearly all bryozoans (the only known exception being Monobryozoon), they live in colonies, each of which consists of clones of the founding member. Unlike those of some marine bryozoans, phylactolaemate colonies consist of only one type of zooid, the feeding forms known as autozooids.[2] These are supported by an unmineralized "exoskeleton" made of gelatinous material or protein, secreted by the zooids.[3] The class contains only one extant order, Plumatellida.[4]
- ^ Biological Greek: phylax, "protect, guard" + laema, "throat": "provided with a protective throat"
- ^ Ruppert, E.E.; Fox, R.S. & Barnes, R.D. (2004). "Lophoporata". Invertebrate Zoology (7th ed.). Brooks / Cole. pp. 829–845. ISBN 0-03-025982-7.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Doherty2001EctoproctaInAndersonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ITIS Standard Report Page: Phylactolaemata". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2009-08-12.