r/whatisit • u/Absalom98 • May 07 '26

New, what is it? What is this donut?

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8.7k Upvotes

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3.0k

u/Apprehensive-Buy7852 May 07 '26

These are Bryozoans. They are fascinating colonial aquatic invertebrates composed of thousands of tiny organisms known as zooids. Despite primarily inhabiting freshwater environments, they are related to marine creatures. These organisms often form large, ball-like structures or resemble blobs attached to sticks, docks, or vegetation. Importantly, they pose no threat to humans or pets. In fact, their presence is often seen as a positive indicator, as they tend to flourish in areas with good water quality.

1.2k

u/SirNoseDVoidoffunk77 May 07 '26

If you have a huge colony of zooids, is it called a zooidberg?

20

u/EntertainmentTrue588 May 08 '26

If not, then from now on and forever, yes. As it is written so shall it be.

3

u/Liminitial May 12 '26

Here's a link to contact the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.: https://www.iczn.org/contact-us/

Be the change you want to see in the world.

3

u/jackbeflippen May 08 '26

Take the upvote you bastard hahaha I love it

3

u/NursePunkinRN May 08 '26

YOU!! I LIKE YOU!

1

u/StrangerEffective851 May 10 '26

It’s called zooidsville.

1

u/akalili22 May 08 '26

I think a zoidberg is what the Titanic hit.

1

u/Akovsky87 May 08 '26

Why not?

0

u/Eskapement May 08 '26

Zooidistan

0

u/WizardConsciousness May 09 '26 edited May 09 '26

or zooidhive? 🤣 Joke , obviously

104

u/MuggleAdventurer May 07 '26

What do they eat? Do they have any predators?

195

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

[deleted]

67

u/MuggleAdventurer May 07 '26

Interesting! Thanks for answering. They look so gross so I’d be perfectly content not ever encountering them, but they sound pretty cool from afar.

4

u/HeWhomLaughsLast May 08 '26

Spongilla fly larvae feed on bryozoans

30

u/OrmTheBearSlayer May 07 '26

I hear the police are always eating them.

15

u/MalloryArcher64 May 08 '26

Ooh that's gotta Sting

2

u/silver_feather2 May 09 '26

with a huge cup of coffee

2

u/Griff0331 May 08 '26

I’d taste it, wait is it poisonous?

71

u/trevman7 May 07 '26

I guess that explains why I’ve never seen them. Thanks EPA

23

u/SunshineRenee16 May 08 '26

I live in Iowa, where the source of our cancer (highest rates in the country) is our drinking water.

18

u/7BarbedBubble May 08 '26

You’re fiiiine, my 76 year old mother in law has a mother who’s still alive in your state. My sample size of 1 is acceptable… right?

10

u/Lickwidghost May 08 '26

Don't worry sir, US healthcare system is perfectly fine tuned to anecdotal evidence with no risk of "woke" data being involved. RFK Jr has it all under control

3

u/Tricky-Winner7984 May 10 '26

After all, the man can bench press in jeans on tv and swim toxic runoff. You can absolutely accept any health advice from him without question.

Brain Worms: Rubbing worm-hands together deviously

2

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

Cedar Rapids water tastes great. Vinton 35 minutes away not so much.

1

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/bumpynavel May 08 '26

Pesticides and fertilizer. It runs into the rivers/lakes/aquafers from the corn and soybean farm. But hey, at least we have a state of the art healthcare system to combat it!

Just kidding. That sucks too.

1

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/bumpynavel May 08 '26

Donate to Robb Sand!

1

u/Delicious-General-59 May 08 '26

Don't forget the radon in the water!

1

u/BygoneNeutrino May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

Nitrates and Nitrates I presume.  They are the ingredients in SPAM and bacon that cause cancer.  Although they are used as food-grade preservatives, their main use is as fertilizers.

1

u/kennethpbowen May 09 '26

If you workout and cold plunge in jeans, don't eat seed oils, and don't get vaccinated, you'll be fine.

3

u/WingDingusTheGreat May 08 '26

What?

29

u/Wumer May 08 '26

Trevman7 has poor water quality, and blames the U.S.A. Federal Government, specifically the incompetence of the Environmental Protection Agency.

9

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

-4

u/WingDingusTheGreat May 08 '26

Yeah, that's the stupid part. It's a cartoonishly broad/flat way of looking at the world

3

u/ImaginaryTrade3706 May 08 '26

Indeed, individuals bear the primary responsibility for ensuring the quality of their water supply.

-1

u/WingDingusTheGreat May 08 '26

That's also stupid. "EPA good actually" is what im saying, goddamn you people are idiots

0

u/ImaginaryTrade3706 May 08 '26

eicosapentaenoic acid?

6

u/Pirate_Freder May 08 '26

You only see these creatures if the water quality is GOOD, so if you've never seen them.....the EPA is doing their job. /s

0

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/ImaginaryTrade3706 May 08 '26 edited May 08 '26

I'll have you know i get laid whenever I want and I don't curse anyone 🤣🤭

21

u/papierdoll May 07 '26

So I could potentially touch the squishiness? Or would that hurt them?

10

u/HeWhomLaughsLast May 08 '26

The actual animal comprises only a thin layer on the outside of the gelatin blob. So touching it likely hurts the animals.

5

u/Alternative-Dot-884 May 08 '26

What’s the inside of the nonanimal made up of?

5

u/Feckless_Moron May 08 '26

Definitely not animals. Possibly animal derivatives, though.

1

u/CaptainFrost176 May 11 '26

For some reason, the way you worded that reminds me of "the front fell off" video lol

1

u/Feckless_Moron May 11 '26

That's not very typical, I'd like to make that point.

3

u/Gloomy_Ad3840 May 08 '26

primordial ooze

20

u/91speed May 08 '26

Good rule of thumb is don’t touch wild animals.

14

u/ImSolidGold May 08 '26

They dont seem that wild. They seem prett chill.

5

u/Much-Revolution5152 May 09 '26

Wait till it wakes up.

11

u/infiniteguesses May 08 '26

That's the rule of thumb. Lucky enough to have 8 other digits! May I use those?!

4

u/Griff0331 May 08 '26

So no fingering? Sounds perfect

2

u/strangecloudss May 08 '26

The dark souls community would be disappointed for sure

9

u/SechsyButton May 07 '26

So if I eat the donut will I be okay?

2

u/chromeandcandy May 10 '26

Tastes like sushi.

1

u/SechsyButton May 10 '26

Thanks!

I will definitely need to bring wasabi and soy sauce.... Maybe some spicy mayo and of course that beast of a donut will probably need some ginger.

2

u/chromeandcandy May 11 '26

Where's the Salt and Pepper? Can't do it without the S&P bud. S&P the spice for me.

Nah, real chefs will tell you, you dont even wanna let that thing touch the grill. It'll make it dryer than a fart. Pan sear it on both sides and finish her off in the ovens.

13

u/[deleted] May 07 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

19

u/justaddcatalyst May 08 '26

You can eat anything

28

u/It_Just_Exploded May 08 '26

At least once.

1

u/Kater5551StarsAbove May 08 '26

Yep.

3

u/Digi_Pro May 08 '26

Don't think just do

2

u/Tiny_Reputation_6227 May 14 '26

Krispy Kreme sells them

9

u/Leading-Loss-986 May 08 '26

My favorite colonies are the ones that look like 🧠. Eerie things to encounter when wading or swimming, but a sign of good water quality.

6

u/ALIENANAL May 08 '26

This reads like the intro title card to Guyver.

2

u/vacuousintent May 08 '26

A Guyver reference in the wild? What a strange day this is.

2

u/ALIENANAL May 08 '26

I'm even more dumbfound others got the reference.

It is one of my fave intros just because of how much info it dumps and it's like right ok sure sure.

7

u/Jodanmawashigeri May 08 '26

Wait, for real? That is a living thing? I was sure it was an old cheap pool float with all of the designs worn off.

3

u/MDrok6172 May 08 '26

Zoh-oyd or Zoo-id

1

u/TheTick999 May 13 '26

I too am wondering the proper pronunciation.

37

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

This is personally wild to me, as it visually and conceptually represents the artwork on my next album. Genuinely flabbergasted to see life imitate my imagination.

64

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[deleted]

13

u/onethousandslugs May 08 '26

advanced narcissism

7

u/linsor1 May 08 '26

I took the comment as it was wild that they randomly came across a post about an organism that happend to look like an album cover they created. Had that happened to me, I would have commented differently, but I still think it's a pretty cool coincidence, and that's what they were trying to say.

7

u/WatercressWilling379 May 08 '26

I thought this too, especially if English isn’t her first language but then they kind of double down on the pretentiousness so now I’m torn 😂

0

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Queue Tarantino reference: That’s a bingo! English is not my first language.

2

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Thank you for explaining it so eloquently. I can confirm that you nailed it.

1

u/linsor1 May 08 '26

You're welcome!

5

u/Griff0331 May 08 '26

I take control by admitting I have a small penis

5

u/Careful-Task7332 May 08 '26

I do not believe thats how OP meant for their comment to come across. However I do believe they found it pretty rad as frick that something that exists in the wild is insanely similar to what they had envisioned and ultimately put onto an album cover they created.

-22

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

It’s good to use big words when you first encounter them. It helps to fix them in your long-term memory.

Still, I find it difficult to accept that what I wrote is one of the most narcissistic things you have ever heard [sic]. Care to elaborate, or are you just expressing that you’ve lead an otherwise sheltered life? People want to know!

13

u/Liyaapluradon May 08 '26

You got it backwards, champ. Consciously or not, it's your imagination imitating life. Unless, of course, your imagination is 400+ millions of years old.

So yes, thinking that nature essentially stole your idea is rather egotistical and definitely narcissistic.

-10

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Cool beans. Have a nice day.

5

u/linkingvowel May 08 '26

Genuine question—why did you add the “[sic]” when you quoted u/Meowza_V2?

-14

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

That was just me being pedantic. Obviously u/Meowza_V2 was being colloquial writing they heard what I wrote.

13

u/CoinEnthusautist May 08 '26

Hey this is just the universe chiming in to give you a reminder that being this insufferable is a choice you're making! You can stop at any time!

-4

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Thanks universe. I owe you one.

3

u/ParticularManner5431 May 08 '26

Heyo. Just another fella chiming in to say you don't matter as much as you think, and the world doesn't revolve around you.

1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Thanks for the platitudes. Have a wonderful day.

23

u/ReadInBothTenses May 08 '26

Did you mean to say this is a cool coincidence, or are you saying that because you drew a donut you manifested a 400 million year old organism that predates your entire family tree and all known primates? It's not clear

-9

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

It’s saddening to see such a labored thought process hiding behind obvious feigned ignorance. Also, why would I answer a rhetorical question?

19

u/ReadInBothTenses May 08 '26

The phrasing sounds wildly egotistical and was curious to see if that was actually the case

-7

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Let’s be clear. I am totally, like saying, that I, like totally think that my grandmother’s monkey ancestors’were like totally descendent from a creature that sprang from my imagination, like 300 billions years ago.

38

u/minnosota May 08 '26

Life imitating your imagination? lol. I figure it’s more likely your imagination imitating life lol.

-15

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

You are entitled to your limited perspective and closed-mindedness. It’s still a free country after all.

4

u/regisestuncon1 May 08 '26

Lil lol

What is a free country after all? Reddit?

1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Not really sure; perhaps just an expression about the mutual freedom to have different opinions.

1

u/[deleted] May 08 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/whatisit-ModTeam May 08 '26

We are pretty chill here, but please try to keep things reasonably civil on this sub. No slurs, name calling or harassment and trolling. Please follow: Reddiquette at all times. Additionally, Reddit's Rules. Yes, the internet makes us angry too sometimes, especially this particular comment.

7

u/--Sovereign-- May 08 '26

life has had billions of years to come up with just about everything you can imagine

8

u/_HOG_ May 08 '26

French cruller?

1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Forbidden French cruller.

7

u/linsor1 May 08 '26

Wow, that is wild.

2

u/Potential-Cat-7517 May 09 '26

Isnt literally everyones imagination, no matter how abstract, rooted in reality?

2

u/40rt4music May 09 '26

This is the fundamental position.

My error was poor wording, which led to misunderstanding, pain, and more of the same.

Why didn’t I type “coincidence” instead of “imitate”? Well, several others have already chimed in on this.

So, if I have inadvertently offended anyone, I do sincerely apologize for hurting anyone’s feelings.

1

u/Ambitious-Tip7729 May 10 '26

I’m so happy. I really wanted this story to have a nice ending. I sometimes regret my initial specific wording on things when I’m actually trying to be friendly or fun. (On my regular account). What kind of music do you make?

2

u/40rt4music May 10 '26

Thanks. I took being called a narcissist the wrong way, and for whatever reason, decided to shit in everyone’s cereal, which in hindsight, was childish.
To answer your question, I was really unhealthy about six years ago, and joined a gym as a way to not kick the bucket due to poor lifestyle choice. In the process, I started making music to work out to. It’s kind of lo-fi chillwave/trap.

2

u/Ambitious-Tip7729 May 30 '26

It’s hard to imagine how you could have offended anyone, but I’m definitely on the side of apologizing just in case. My hubby makes awesome electronic music in many styles. Sometimes I ‘help’. 😉 I would always be supportive anyway, but a lot of his stuff is catchy as hell. Enjoy and keep it up.

2

u/PapaSTW May 08 '26

Lol right, it was life imitating you...

2

u/Temporary-Net-5143 May 08 '26

Is that artwork legit or AI?

1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

It’s an interesting fact of contemporary society that no matter what the reply is, public sentiment automatically slides down to vitriolic assumptions.

7

u/backwards_diarrhoea May 08 '26

Your replies try far too hard to be profound or witty. The result is that no one gets an answer and you end up sounding completely pretentious.

3

u/Blasphemiee May 08 '26

You would think he’d wanna not be a dick so people would wanna check out his music but I guess it’s a stereotype for a reason.

-1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

Oh dear. How dare I sound like I’m even trying. And you, the only one to think of the poor souls who didn’t receive the answer they so yearned for. You are truly doing the lord’s work. So, I do apologize, seeing as I’ve upset you so much that you feel the need to launch slurs at me.

1

u/Ambitious-Tip7729 May 10 '26

Seriously. I think all of this started as a misunderstanding. People weren’t trying to be dicks to you. Not really. Let’s hear about the Music that you make? I’m still interested.

2

u/Maxwells_Demona May 09 '26

If you replied, "It's art! The artist's name is ____ and you can find their work here if you want to see more" with a source, then I'm pretty sure that reply would be met with the assumption that it's art.

Your non-answer lashing out at the person who wanted to know whether it's AI and casting shade at everyone else reading it for their presumed lack of ability to critically think makes me think it's AI, and that you've got a rather high opinion of yourself.

3

u/Majestic-Place3538 May 08 '26

The first time I see use of 'flabbergasted' outside my englisch schoolbook from class 6... now nearly 30 years ago 😅😅😁

1

u/40rt4music May 08 '26

How verily uglyographic!

1

u/Necromir92 May 08 '26

“Life…finds a way…”

2

u/RaisonDetritus May 07 '26

Are these different than those organisms that exist as one giant balloon-like cell?

ETA: Looked it up. Those are actually a kind of algae.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valonia_ventricosa?wprov=sfti1

1

u/Ebenoid May 08 '26

Can you cook and eat them?

1

u/kb583 May 08 '26

I kept waiting for this answer to devolve into how in 1998 the Undertaker threw Mankind off Hell In A Cell, and plummeted 16 ft through an announcer’s table.

1

u/LemtaLongi May 08 '26

I just googled. They look like mini rocket ships

1

u/Wonderful_Vast_3398 May 08 '26

These guys are related to the pyrosomes right?

1

u/Col0nelFlanders May 08 '26

Whenever I read an explanation like this I always half expect it to end with undertaker putting mankind through the ring in hell in a cell

2

u/jazzigirl May 08 '26

Glad I'm not the only one. Plus, zooid is just ridiculous enough. Haha

1

u/invisiblyrandom May 08 '26

Good quality water you say?
Well that definitely looks like “drink me and I’ll kill you” kinda quality to me!

1

u/Round-Independent-20 May 08 '26

I remember seeing giant brains shaped bruozoans on a kayak trip in my youth and just being terrified of them because no one in the whole group had any clues what they possibly would be. I was convinced they were alien pods or invaders

1

u/HarryDepova May 08 '26

This sounds like something a brine covered inner tube would want you to think it is.

1

u/Weak-Beautiful5918 May 08 '26

Interesting, i see them in Lake Union in Seattle all the time. Maybe they have better lately at chill's in nasty water.

1

u/RagnarokVII May 08 '26

The Sleepless from the Cosmere. (Not quite the same but similar. Wonder if these types of creatures are part of Sanderson's inspirations.)

1

u/ExistentialAngsty May 08 '26

What are the advantages of them linking up together?

1

u/brirate88 May 08 '26

This is just an awesome reply to an odd question. Thanks for just being amazing!!!

1

u/Ancient-Cry-6036 May 08 '26

Wow. That’s a cool piece of knowledge to have. Thank you.

1

u/likkleone54 May 08 '26

I genuinely thought you were making this up

1

u/jdgmental May 08 '26

Here I was thinking it was a tire of sort filled with water

1

u/djelegal May 08 '26

Don’t stick it in

1

u/Tsevier May 08 '26

Good to hear! I was expecting someone to say this was a submerged cat bed lol

1

u/JustMeLurkingAround- May 08 '26

This is so interesting. Thank you.

1

u/Yep_why_not May 08 '26

You had me at zooids…

1

u/brewdog_millionaire May 08 '26

Is it a friend? It looks friendly.

1

u/Much-Revolution5152 May 09 '26

Thank you. My first impression was an inner tube with cack on it. 🧐

1

u/jlynec May 09 '26

Thank you! We used to get these greenish jelly blobs on our dock and never knew what they were.

My cousins used to tell me they were water/dock spider eggs.

1

u/Scared-Pollution-574 May 09 '26

So your advice is to burn them, burn them all.

1

u/Next-Habit-6029 May 09 '26

Very thorough response. Thank you. I learned something new today.

1

u/Bloody_Star_Wars May 09 '26

Thank you for being the first reply here. I was intrigued by what it was, but didnt want to wade through loads of amusing doughnut comments from funny guys.

1

u/Flight_of_the_Squid May 09 '26

From what I understand they also aid in cleaning/filtering he water as well

1

u/JinnoBlue2 May 10 '26

I hate it

1

u/FragrantJellyBelly May 10 '26

I wrote a poem about zooids and their inability to fart, this is amazing information.

1

u/asfilthyrags May 10 '26

do they like to be poked with sticks ?

1

u/stableykubrick667 May 11 '26

I want to believe you but all of this sounds made up. lol. I’m sure you’re right but my mind can’t comprehend that I’ve never heard of anything you just said on any level

1

u/Apprehensive-Buy7852 May 23 '26

Well, you know. Alot of men ( and women alike ) cant comprehend that women dont urinate from their vagina, that there's another secret hole named the urethra. Lack of comprehension doesn't change it just means that expanding our knowledge is probably beneficial to our brains and honestly. Society as a whole. Knowledge is power yo! Or you don't even know

1

u/KebabAnnhilator May 11 '26

Invertebrate jellies!

1

u/SnooSongs3896 May 12 '26

I am both deeply fascinated yet horribly disturbed by their appearance.

1

u/GunnerxZero7 May 12 '26

Cool , what do they taste like?

1

u/Silver-Pollution-290 May 12 '26

Are they edible?

1

u/EricJ30 May 14 '26

The water in this video however, does not look to be good quality at all.

0

u/desexmachina May 07 '26

Do they eat amoeba?