Description

Also known as Bryozoan, Sea Mat.

Found on overhangs, walls, and sometimes clinging to other invertebrates, over coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 15cm
Depth - 15-260m
Widespread Western Atlantic

Bryozoa are tiny microscopic celled animals that live in a soft membranous cell in colonies that could be just a few or a few million in size. Tiny tentacles protrude form an opening to catch plankton.
Some colonies can be 1mm in height as flat sheets while others resemble plant or coral and are often mistaken as such. Ref: http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=422322