A massive gelatinous blob resembling a 'mutant brain' or 'cursed gummy bear' has been discovered floating in Lake Huron, Michigan, but wildlife officials assure the public there is no cause for concern.
The organism, identified as Pectinatella magnifica, also known as the magnificent bryozoan, is actually a colony of thousands of tiny filter-feeding creatures called zooids. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service described it as 'a gummy, a pile of frog eggs, a mutant brain, or a sci-fi nightmare,' but emphasised that the zooids are 'working together in harmony.'
Bryozoans have existed on Earth for at least 480 million years. According to the wildlife service, 'These ancient creatures breathe life into freshwater, capturing plankton and cleaning the water as they drift in slow-moving rivers and lakes. Some colonies grow over a foot wide, pulsing gently with the current, a secret world hidden in plain sight.'
Individual zooids are no larger than 4 millimetres wide and float alone before forming colonies. Once together, each zooid takes on a specific role for mutual benefit. If a piece of the colony breaks off, it can continue to grow and form a new colony.
Bryozoans are found in both marine and freshwater habitats worldwide. Pectinatella magnifica is the most common species in the United States, though there are over 4,000 known species globally.
