Fenestrulina rugula Hayward & Ryland, 1990
provided by British Antarctic Survey
Description
White to translucent in colour. This species is encrusting and is often so transparent that the tentacles and body can be seen inside the zooids when retracted. This species is the most common of its genus in shallows, though F. antarctica, F. cervicornis, F. crystallina, F. exigua, F. parvipora and F. proxima also occur.
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Species distribution
5m to deep water, patchily very common in shallows, particularly on boulders undersurfaces. F. rugula occurs in the Scotia Arc and Antarctic Peninsula.
In places this species represents more than 90% of the bryozoan colonies and is sometimes more abundant than the tiny white spirorbid worms. Typically growth in previous years contrasts in appearance from that in the present year, and when dry, faint annual rings can even be seen, enabling colonies to be aged. It is a fast growing pioneer species overgrown by almost all other encrusters. It is a suspension feeder and eats phytoplankton. It is probably grazed by limpets and echinoids.
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