Reginella furcata (Hinks, 1884) Common name(s):
Synonyms: Cribrilina furcata
Phylum Bryozoa (Entoprocta) Class Gymnolaemata  Order Cheilostomata Suborder Anasca Family Cribrilinidae
	Reginella furcata colony found encrusting a derelict fishing line, found during a dive off southern Whidbey Island.
	(Stacked Photo by:  Dave Cowles, 2019)

Description:  Bryozoans in Order Cheilostomata generally have an operculum, the zooids are often polymorphic and are connected to one another by cords of tissue, and the embryos are generally brooded. Family Cribrilinidae has spiny costae arching over each zooid's  frontal membrane. Reginella furcata  is an encrusting colony in which the zooids have an operculum (a few dark ones visible in the photo above) and a bell-shaped aperture. It has regular, parallel transverse rows of pores on the frontal formed by the fusion of frontal  costae and often has a short, usually bifurcated spine on each side of the frontal. Its Ovicells are prominent but it has no avicularia and no pronounced umbo on the aperture of the zooid.

How to Distinguish from Similar Species:Reginella nitida has pores radiating from the center of the frontal instead of transverse rows., does not have spines near the aperture, and may have a low umbo on the border of the aperture.

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Another colony on the same fishing line. Photo by Dave Cowles, summer 2019

Authors and Editors of Page:
Dave Cowles (2020):  Created original page
CSS coding for page developed by Jonathan Cowles

Salish Sea Invertebrates web site provided courtesy of Walla Walla University