Thairopora mamillaris

Thairopora mamillaris
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Size: Colony to 20+ cm in length (width limited by host blade thickness)

Distribution: Few SA records. Sellicks Beach

Habitat: On seagrass, particularly Posidonia

Depth: Intertidal to shallow subtidal

Thairopora mamillaris
Thairopora mamillaris

This Cheilostomatid bryozoan is found on blades of Posidonia seagrass. It starts off small, as a few zooids, and expands outwards and upwards until it encrusts most of the host blade. The zooiid-containing cells are transparent, and fan out from the initial point of settlement to reflect this direction of growth.