Description:
Bowerbankia maxima colonies are gray-white in color and develop into partially erect branches and clusters of individuals called zooids, which are arranged irregularly along the stem-like stolons.  Zooids are cylindrical and measure an average of 0.05 X 0.01 inches. The horseshoe-shaped lophophore that surrounds the mouth is comparatively large, measuring approximately 0.03 inches in diameter, and bears 8 tentacles that are strongly outcurved at the tips. Stolons measure 0.005 inches in width.

Habitats: 
Bryozoans are typically collected from areas in the Indian River Lagoon where salinity is below 30‰.   It is found in association with other species that act as support structures: mangrove roots, oyster beds, mussels, docks, pilings, and man-made debris.  In the Indian River Lagoon, B. maxima was collected in association with seagrasses and algae, specifically the rhodophyte Solieira spp., from March through November.

Similar Species: 
B. maxima could be confused with B. gracilis, a closely related species, due to their similar growth patterns.  However, zooids of B. maxima are significantly larger than those of B. gracilis. In addition, B. maxima has star-shaped, brilliantly pigmented white cells in the stolon and zooids, with white pigmentation extending into the lophophore and tentacles.

Range:
Bowerbankia maxima was first described from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida in 1982. It has since been documented in Jamaica at both Discovery Bay and Port Royal. The distribution of this species is likely to be significantly more widespread.  Within the Indian River Lagoon, B. maxima was collected in abundance from the Sebastian Inlet grass flats, and coastally at Walton Rocks and Sebastian.