Story: Marine animals without backbones

Lace coral

Lace coral

Bryozoans, or lace corals, are minute animals (about 1 millimetre long) that live in colonies. Individuals are partially enclosed in a common cover of protein or calcium carbonate. They derive their common name from the attractive lacy form some species exhibit. Pictured here is a typical lace coral, Hippellozoon novaezelandiae, from the Poor Knights Islands marine reserve.

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How to cite this page:

Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, 'Marine animals without backbones - Lace corals and lamp shells', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5862/lace-coral (accessed 26 April 2024)

Story by Dennis Gordon and Maggy Wassilieff, published 12 Jun 2006