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Ectoprocta

Class Gymnolaemata

Fossil and recent primarily marine animals with cylindrical or boxlike chitinous or calcified zooids. Their colonies are often polymorphic, with zooids specialized for feeding, defense, support, and reproduction. The lophophore is circular and protrusion depends on body wall deformation.

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The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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