How could a paleontologist distinguish between a bryozoan fossil and a brachiopod fossil?
A)Bryozoans are large and solitary.
B)Zoecia are always found in aggregates.
C)You can only distinguish the two by examining the lophophore.
D)Bryozoans often look like bivalves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bryozoans and brachiopods both have similar, small, filter-feeding structures called zoecia, which can make it difficult to distinguish them based on their morphology alone. However, bryozoans are colonial organisms, meaning that they are found in large groups or aggregates, whereas brachiopods are typically solitary. Therefore, the presence of multiple specimens in one location would be a strong indicator of a bryozoan fossil.

How Could a Paleontologist Distinguish Between a Bryozoan Fossil and a Brachiopod