Today marks the 190th year anniversary of the discovery of the #cyphonautes #larva of #bryozoans! Ehrenberg first saw the tiny creature on November 25, 1832 (Hyman 1959).

This is my favorite #LarvalForm of all #MarineInvertebrates. It has a unique triangled, hat-like shape with a thin bivalve shell and a pompom at the top (apical organ). It swims and captures food using cilia and has some finely organized muscles (first image).

#OTD #Biology #Bryozoa #Microscopy #Confocal #Biodiversity