Bugula

Bugula
The nudibranch Diaphorodoris papillata Portmann & Sandmeier, 1960 feeding on Bugula neritina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Bryozoa
Class: Gymnolaemata
Order: Cheilostomata
Family: Bugulidae
Genus: Bugula
(Oken, 1815)

Bugula is a genus of common colonial arborescent bryozoa, often mistaken for seaweed. It commonly grows upright in bushy colonies of up to 15 cm in height.[1][2]

Distribution

The native distribution of Bugula neritina is presumed to be tropical and subtropical waters; however it has become widespread globally due to attachment to the hulls of vessels.[1] It is considered an invasive species in some countries.

Bugula neritina

Bugula neritina attracted interest as a source of cytotoxic chemicals, bryostatins, under clinical investigation as anti-cancer agents. In 2001 pharmaceutical company GPC Biotech licensed Bryostatin 1 from Arizona State University for commercial development as a treatment for cancer. GPC Biotech canceled development in 2003, saying that Bryostatin 1 showed little effectiveness and some toxic side-effects.[3]

Other uses

Dried Bugula are commonly used as decorations:

"Air fern", the so-called everlasting plant that supposedly absorbs from air all the moisture it needs to live, is commonly dried colonies of the bryozoan Bugula that have been artificially coloured.[4]

However, it should be noted that Sertularia argentea are also sold as "air ferns."[5]

Species

  • Bugula alba Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula apsteini Hasenbank, 1932
  • Bugula aspinosa Liu, 1984
  • Bugula biota Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula capensis Waters, 1887
  • Bugula ceylonensis Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula crosslandi Hastings, 1939
  • Bugula decipiens Hayward, 1981
  • Bugula expansa Hastings, 1939
  • Bugula fastigiata Kluge, 1929
  • Bugula gautieri Ryland, 1962
  • Bugula gnoma Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula hessei Hasenbank, 1932
  • Bugula hummelincki Fransen, 1986
  • Bugula ingens Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula intermedia Liu, 1984
  • Bugula longissima Busk, 1884
  • Bugula lophodendron Ortmann, 1890
  • Bugula migottoi Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula miniatella Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula minima Waters, 1909
  • Bugula neritina (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Bugula neritinoides Hastings, 1939
  • Bugula orientalis Liu, 1984
  • Bugula paternostrae Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula philippsae Harmer, 1926
  • Bugula prismatica (Gray, 1843)
  • Bugula protensa Hayward, 1981
  • Bugula providensis Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula robusta MacGillivray, 1869
  • Bugula robustoides Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula rochae Vieira, Winston & Fehlauer-Ale, 2012
  • Bugula scaphoides Kirkpatrick, 1890
  • Bugula scaphula Tilbrook, Hayward & Gordon, 2001
  • Bugula simpliciformis Osburn, 1932
  • Bugula solorensis Winston & Woollacott, 2008
  • Bugula subglobosa Harmer, 1926
  • Bugula tschukotkensis Kluge, 1952
  • Bugula umbelliformis Yanagi & Okada, 1918
  • Bugula vectifera Harmer, 1926
Species brought into synonymy

References

  1. 1 2 "Bugula neritina". exoticsguide.org. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Bock, P. (2015). Bugula Oken, 1815. In: Bock, P.; Gordon, D. (2015) World List of Bryozoa. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=110839 on 2015-09-02
  3. ↑ "Bryostatin 1". 19 June 2006. Retrieved 2009-08-20.
  4. ↑ Frank K. McKinney. "The Bryozoa". International Bryozoology Association. Archived from the original on 2006-12-13. Retrieved 2007-02-17.
  5. ↑ "Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland - Cnidaria". habitas.org.uk. Retrieved 2007-02-19.
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