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Description
Gyromonilea is a very diverse class of radioscriptorans related to hive sponges and bracheophores. Also known as sea belts, this group has more than 1,500 species. Except for a few free living genera, most gyromonileans are sessile polizoans that live anchored to hard surfaces where they trap plankton. The soft-bodied queen generates small drones very similar to those of the rest of the radioscriptorans, which join together to form a rotating circular ribbon. During the spin, each drone catches plankton and stores it in its vestigial stomach to introduce it into the queen once the spin is over. The drones are attached to each other by tiny, modified velcro-like fins, although the more derived orders fuse the drones by a layer of tissue, so they share a circulatory system with each others. The belt rotates thanks to the movements of the drones rows of fins. The rotation speed of the filtration ribbon varies depending on the species, but in general the ones that live in poor nutrient rich waters have a slower rotation (a few times a day) while those that inhabit turbid waters with abundant plankton can spin fast and continuously (up to 30 spins per minute).

* Fluctomonile lithocola: A colonial species that forms clusters in coastal rocks. Their zooids are fused together by a strong covering of tissue that helps them to not detach away by the blows of the waves.

* Balteobrachium prolifica: The queens of this colonial genus sprout along a fleshy stem that attaches to the soft substrate with a peduncle. All of them bring their drones together in a single filtration belt that is shared by the entire colony.

* Coleocorbis fasciatus: This gyromonilean belongs to a relatively basal order that does not form colonies. The queen can reach 13 cm in length and develop a ribbon one meter in diameter. They live on the reef margin cliffs, where they catch plankton in the strong currents thanks to the feathery mouthparts of their drones.

Description
Gyromonilea is a very diverse class of radioscriptorans related to hive sponges and bracheophores. Also known as sea belts, this group has more than 1,500 species. Except for a few free living genera, most gyromonileans are sessile polizoans that live anchored to hard surfaces where they trap plankton. The soft-bodied queen generates small drones very similar to those of the rest of the radioscriptorans, which join together to form a rotating circular ribbon. During the spin, each drone catches plankton and stores it in its vestigial stomach to introduce it into the queen once the spin is over. The drones are attached to each other by tiny, modified velcro-like fins, although the more derived orders fuse the drones by a layer of tissue, so they share a circulatory system with each others. The belt rotates thanks to the movements of the drones rows of fins. The rotation speed of the filtration ribbon varies depending on the species, but in general the ones that live in poor nutrient rich waters have a slower rotation (a few times a day) while those that inhabit turbid waters with abundant plankton can spin fast and continuously (up to 30 spins per minute).

* Fluctomonile lithocola: A colonial species that forms clusters in coastal rocks. Their zooids are fused together by a strong covering of tissue that helps them to not detach away by the blows of the waves.

* Balteobrachium prolifica: The queens of this colonial genus sprout along a fleshy stem that attaches to the soft substrate with a peduncle. All of them bring their drones together in a single filtration belt that is shared by the entire colony.

* Coleocorbis fasciatus: This gyromonilean belongs to a relatively basal order that does not form colonies. The queen can reach 13 cm in length and develop a ribbon one meter in diameter. They live on the reef margin cliffs, where they catch plankton in the strong currents thanks to the feathery mouthparts of their drones.