Ctenostomatida

The Ctenostomatida are an order of bryozoans in the class Gymnolaemata. The great majority of ctenostome species are marine, although Paludicella inhabits fresh water. They are distinguished from their close relatives, the cheilostomes, by their lack of a calcified exoskeleton. Instead, the exoskeleton is chitinous, gelatinous, or composed only of a soft membrane, and always lacks an operculum. Colonies of ctenostomes are often composed of elongated, branch-like stolons, although more compact forms also exist.

Ctenostomatida
Ropalonaria venosa, an etching of an Ordovician ctenostome bryozoan on a strophomenid brachiopod valve.[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Bryozoa
Class:	Gymnolaemata
Order:	Ctenostomatida Busk, 1852
Suborders and Superfamilies[2]
Suborders Alcyonidiina d'Hondt, 1985 Flustrellidrina Paludicellina Allman, 1856 Stoloniferina Ehlers, 1876 Vesicularina Hincks, 1880 Victorellina Jebram, 1973 Superfamilies Benedeniporoidea Delage & Hérouard, 1897
Synonyms[2]
Carnosa Gray, 1841 Ctenostomata Busk, 1852