Membraniporidae

Membraniporidae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Bryozoa
Class:	Gymnolaemata
Order:	Cheilostomata
Suborder:	Malacostegina
Family:	Membraniporidae Busk, 1854

Membraniporidae is a bryozoan family in the suborder Malacostega. Membranipora form encrusting or erect colonies; they are unilaminar or bilaminar and weakly to well-calcified. Zooids have vertical and basal calcified walls, but virtually no frontal calcified wall: most of the frontal surface is occupied by frontal membrane. An intertentacular organ is also present. The larvae are not brooded. The ancestrula is generally twinned. Kenozooids may be present in a few species; modified zooids analogous to avicularia are rare.