Description:
Colonies of Victorella pavida develop as chains of zooids connected by a stolon that arises from the bases of new zooids. In young colonies, overall colony structure is quite simple;  however, as they develop, zooids elongate and bud off new stolons and zooids to form extensive, branching networks. Individual zooids are tiny and cylindrical, measuring approximately 0.007 X 0.02 inches. In older colonies, zooids can measure as much as 0.1 inch. The horseshoe-shaped lophophore surrounding the mouth averages 0.01 inches diameter and bears 8 tentacles.

Habitat:
Typical habitats for bryozoans in the Indian River Lagoon include seagrasses, mangrove roots, drift algae, oyster reef, docks, pilings, breakwaters, and man-made debris.  Within the Indian River Lagoon, V. pavida was collected only from seagrass beds around Link Port.

Similar Species:
Colonies of Victorella pavida resemble those of the genus Bowerbankia. These groups are differentiated based on differences in growth from the stolon. In Bowerbankia, new zooids are budded separately from the stolon;  in V. pavida, the stolon arises from the base of zooids.

Range:
Victorella pavida is a cosmopolitan species whose range in the western Atlantic extends from Chesapeake Bay to Brazil.  This species had not been documented in the Indian River Lagoon prior to 1982. Since then, it has been collected sporadically from Link Port in Ft. Pierce, and along the coast near inlets.