Lacerna eatoni - Species - Antarctic Field Guides

Lacerna eatoni (Busk, 1876)

provided by British Antarctic Survey

Description

Grey/ yellow to white in colour but translucent when young. The apertures (from which the tentacles emerge) of each zooid are hemispherical with a characteristic notch in.

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Species distribution

Distribution info

5m to deep water. The species occurs in Patagonia, Kerguelen Island and throughout west Antarctica. Two other Antarctic species occur in southern polar waters, L. hosteensis and L. watersi. Further Lacerna species occur in the Subantarctic.

Ecology

This species is uncommon on boulder undersurfaces but quite common on other organisms such as ascidians, other bryozoans (particularly I. tenuis), brachiopods, or molluscs. Little is known about its ecology. It is a suspension feeder, eating phytoplankton during spring and summer months. It is probably grazed by limpets and echinoids.