Bugula neritina

Bugula neritina (commonly known as brown bryozoan or common bugula) is a cryptic species complex of sessile marine animal in the Bugula genus.

It is invasive with a cosmopolitan distribution.

Bugula neritina is of interest from a drug discovery perspective because it produces the bryostatins, a group of around twenty bioactive natural products. The bryostatins are under investigation as possible therapies for cancer and Alzheimer's disease.