A tiny marine animal that lives in colonies and builds branching structures that look like miniature trees or lace on rocks and seaweed.
From Greek 'bryon' (moss) and 'zoon' (animal), because early scientists thought these creatures resembled moss animals. The term was coined in the 19th century when scientists realized these weren't plants but colonial animals.
Bryozoans are incredible architects—each microscopic individual zooid in the colony can function independently, yet together they build structures so intricate that some resemble Victorian lace. They've been building reefs for over 470 million years, making them older than dinosaurs.
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