What's this giant blob found floating in US waters?

This bryozoan was found recently in Michigan's Lake Huron

Is it an alien? A brain-shaped blob? A giant gummy bear?

Nope this blob was found right here on Earth - floating in a US lake.

And before we all get carried away it's actually called Pectinatella magnifica, also known as the magnificent bryozoan.

The large pile of 'goo' is actually an invertebrate (an animal without a backbone) made up of thousands of tiny filter-feeding creatures called zooids.

And whilst this particular blob was found last month, bryozoans have been on Earth for at least 480 million years, according to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Let's find out more - if you dare...

What are bryozoans?

This giant, squishy-looking blob is actually a colony of tiny animals

Bryozoans are made up thousands of small invertebrates called zooids.

The US Fish and Wildlife service says "These ancient creatures breathe life into freshwater, capturing plankton and cleaning the water as they drift in slow-moving rivers and lakes.

"Some colonies grow over a foot wide, pulsing gently with the current, a secret world hidden in plain sight."

Zooids are tiny organisms that are no bigger than 4mm wide. They can float alone for some time before bunching together as colonies and forming big gloopy groups.

Once they are together in this giant squishy looking blob, the colonies start to work.

Whilst they work together for mutual benefit, capturing plankton and cleaning the water, each zooid also takes on a specific role.

Some cool facts:

Bryozoan's can be found worldwide

• If a piece of a bryozoan colony breaks off, the piece can continue to grow and form a new colony.

• Bryozoans are found in both marine and freshwater habitats throughout the world.

• There are over 4,000 known species of bryozoans across the globe