Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

Flustrina

Flustrina is a suborder under the order Cheilostomatida of gymnolaematan Bryozoa.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 4 min
Length
828 w
Citations
3
Source
Flustrina
Temporal range:
Colony of Flustra foliacea (Flustridae)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Bryozoa
Class: Gymnolaemata
Order: Cheilostomatida
Suborder: Flustrina
Smitt, 1868
Synonyms
  • Anasca
  • Ascophora
  • Ascophorina
  • Neocheilostomatina

Flustrina is a suborder under the order Cheilostomatida of gymnolaematan Bryozoa (sea mats).

Description

The structure of the individual zooids is generally simple, a box-like chamber of calcium carbonate, the polypides reaching out through an uncalcified flexible frontal wall, often surrounded by numerous spines. Like in other gymnolaematans, their lophophore is protruded by muscles that pull on the frontal wall of the zooid.

Taxonomy and systematics

In some treatments, the Flustrina are restricted to the superfamilies Calloporoidea and Flustroidea and ranked as infraorder alongside the Cellulariomorpha which contain three other superfamilies.1

The obsolete suborder Anasca previously included the members of this suborder before being deprecated.2

The following superfamilies, and families are recognised in the suborder Flustrina:3

  • Superfamily Flustroidea Fleming, 1828
References

References

  1. BryoZone (2004): Taxa Hierarchy
  2. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Anasca". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
  3. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Flustrina incertae sedis". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2025-09-05.