Smittoidea prolifica Osburn, 1952

Smittoidea prolifica

The identification of bryozoans involves the examination of several microcopic structures. For example, this common encrusting bryozoan can be identified to the genus Smittoidea by the combination of the large areolar pores (Ar) along the margin of the zooecium, the prominent lyrula (Ly) on the proximal margin of the aperture, the perforate nature of the ovicell (Ov), and the median suboral avicularium (Av). The vertical orientation of the avicularium identifies this species as S. prolifica.