Reteporella grimaldii

Neptune Veil ( Reteporella grimaldii )

The Neptune Veil ( Reteporella grimaldii, Syn: Reteporella septentrionalis Harmer, 1933 Sertella septentrionalis ) is a beheimatetes in the Mediterranean and Atlantic bryozoan. It lives in colonies of many individual copies.

Features

Colonies of Neptune veil reaches a diameter of up to 10 cm. They form colonies with fragile, net-like structures that stand upright. The ranges in color from pink to pale yellow discreetly laughing. Dead colonies are rapidly overgrown by green algae. The bryozoan colony consists of lime.

Distribution and habitat

It is native throughout the Mediterranean. There is evidence for the eastern Atlantic and the British Isles.

The Neptune veil is a shade loving type of Circalitorials. In shallow water this bryozoan colony grows only in sheltered caves and crevices, as they can be damaged because of their fragility otherwise. In greater depths, one finds the kind on open surfaces. Smaller specimens often grow in the protected area of ​​the root, which grows only in the Mediterranean Neptune grass ( Posidonia oceanica ).

Behavior

The individual animals of a colony living in a solid shell into which they can retreat when interference or danger. The individuals of a bryozoan colony feed on very fine plankton, which is received by a crown of tentacles. More food is decaying organic substances. Among the individuals of the colonies is a division of labor: While some of the task of rebuilding the colony, another part is responsible for the proliferation.

Hunting and

The Neptune veil, like all bryozoans, due to the demanding entertainment needs for aquariums inappropriate.