苔(tai)(tai)(tai)蘚(xian)蟲(Bryozoa=Polyzoa)是(shi)固著生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)活的群體(ti)(ti)動(dong)物(wu)(wu)。苔(tai)(tai)(tai)蘚(xian)蟲是(shi)一(yi)(yi)種像苔(tai)(tai)(tai)蘚(xian)植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)的動(dong)物(wu)(wu),外(wai)形很(hen)像植(zhi)物(wu)(wu),但具一(yi)(yi)套完整的消(xiao)化(hua)器(qi),包括口(kou)、食(shi)道、胃(wei)、腸和(he)肛門等(deng)。所以把它放在動(dong)物(wu)(wu)界內(nei)。這(zhe)種生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)物(wu)(wu)常和(he)海(hai)藻(zao)伴生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)在一(yi)(yi)起。個(ge)體(ti)(ti)小,不分節,具體(ti)(ti)腔。體(ti)(ti)外(wai)分泌一(yi)(yi)層膠質(zhi),形成群體(ti)(ti)的骨胳。蟲體(ti)(ti)前端有口(kou),口(kou)的周圍有一(yi)(yi)冠狀物(wu)(wu),稱(cheng)“總擔”,其上生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)許多觸(chu)手。消(xiao)化(hua)道U字形,口(kou)和(he)肛門因而靠近(jin)。無排泄(xie)和(he)循環器(qi)官。海(hai)水、淡(dan)水均產。在地質(zhi)時代種類很(hen)多,奧(ao)陶紀即已出現(xian),現(xian)代尚有生(sheng)(sheng)(sheng)存(cun)。例(li)如羽苔(tai)(tai)(tai)蟲附著湖邊石上或植(zhi)物(wu)(wu)上;牡丹苔(tai)(tai)(tai)蘚(xian)蟲,附著淺(qian)海(hai)巖礁上。
硬體(ti)為(wei)鈣質,蟲(chong)管(guan)細長(chang),斷面呈圓形(xing)、多邊(bian)形(xing),有間隙孔、刺(ci)孔、中心區(qu)(qu)(內帶(dai))、邊(bian)緣區(qu)(qu)(外(wai)(wai)帶(dai)),內外(wai)(wai)帶(dai)界(jie)線不清,內帶(dai)壁(bi)(bi)厚,橫(heng)板(ban)少,外(wai)(wai)帶(dai)壁(bi)(bi)薄,橫(heng)板(ban)多。蟲(chong)管(guan)壁(bi)(bi)具平行(xing)片狀結(jie)構圍(wei)繞蟲(chong)室。
硬體為鈣質,群體呈扇狀(zhuang)、漏斗狀(zhuang)、枝(zhi)狀(zhuang)等,通(tong)常由(you)許(xu)多平(ping)行的分(fen)枝(zhi)構成,有橫(heng)枝(zhi)相連,構成網格狀(zhuang),兩(liang)枝(zhi)上有兩(liang)列蟲室,蟲室中間(jian)被一中棱隔開。蟲室呈長方形、正(zheng)方形或六(liu)邊形,內外(wai)帶(dai)清楚,內帶(dai)窄,外(wai)帶(dai)寬,有刺孔。單偏光鏡下(xia)呈深棕色,壁具(ju)平(ping)行片狀(zhuang)結構。苔蘚蟲以其群體較小,蟲管(guan)細長與珊瑚(hu)(hu)區(qu)(qu)別,并以其蟲管(guan)向(xiang)外(wai)不收縮,而管(guan)壁在加(jia)厚處呈疊錐似的平(ping)行片狀(zhuang)結構,有間(jian)隙孔及刺孔來區(qu)(qu)別珊瑚(hu)(hu)藻和珊瑚(hu)(hu)。絕大多數苔蘚蟲生活在淺海中,也有少數于淡水中。
苔(tai)(tai)蘚蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)多生(sheng)活在(zai)(zai)海洋。有菊皿苔(tai)(tai)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)、白薄苔(tai)(tai)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)和鞭須苔(tai)(tai)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong),我國海產苔(tai)(tai)蘚蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)分布在(zai)(zai)膠州灣、浙江淺(qian)海海底,和珊瑚混生(sheng)在(zai)(zai)一(yi)起。淡(dan)水產的(de)苔(tai)(tai)蘚蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)在(zai)(zai)蘇州、南京、深圳(zhen)淡(dan)水水體中均有。
苔蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)喜歡在較清(qing)潔、富含(han)藻類、溶解氧充(chong)足(zu)的(de)(de)水(shui)體(ti)中(zhong)生(sheng)活,能(neng)適(shi)應各地(di)帶的(de)(de)溫度(du),廣泛(fan)分布于世界各地(di)。淡水(shui)種在春、秋(qiu)季(ji)節(jie)(25~28℃)生(sheng)長(chang)旺盛,水(shui)面有很多上一(yi)年(nian)的(de)(de)休(xiu)眠(mian)芽,遇適(shi)宜環(huan)境發育成苔蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)。微(wei)(wei)污(wu)染的(de)(de)水(shui)體(ti)中(zhong)也有苔蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)。在微(wei)(wei)污(wu)染源水(shui)生(sheng)物預處理過(guo)程(cheng)中(zhong)如有大(da)量苔蘚(xian)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)出現(xian),會被填(tian)料(liao)攔截,附(fu)(fu)在填(tian)料(liao)上生(sheng)長(chang),和鐘蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)、聚縮蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)、獨縮蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)、累枝(zhi)蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)、蓋纖蟲(chong)(chong)(chong)等有粘(zhan)性尾柄的(de)(de)原生(sheng)動物聚在一(yi)起,具有一(yi)定的(de)(de)生(sheng)物吸(xi)附(fu)(fu)作用(yong),并吞食水(shui)中(zhong)微(wei)(wei)型生(sheng)物和有機雜(za)質(zhi),對水(shui)體(ti)的(de)(de)凈化有一(yi)定積極作用(yong)。但如果極度(du)大(da)量繁(fan)殖(zhi),會降低水(shui)流速度(du),給工(gong)程(cheng)運行造成一(yi)定不利(li)影響。