Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "polyzoan" tana nufin kowane memba na phylum Polyzoa, wanda ya ƙunshi nau'i daban-daban na dabbobin mulkin mallaka na ruwa. Polyzoans, wanda kuma aka sani da bryozoans, ana siffanta su da ƙanƙanta, zooids masu alaƙa (kwayoyin halitta ɗaya) waɗanda ke samar da manyan yankuna. Waɗannan zooids suna da zoben tentacles kewaye da baki, kuma an rufe su a cikin exoskeleton mai kariya. Polyzoans sune masu ciyar da matattarar tacewa, kuma suna taka muhimmiyar rawa a cikin yanayin yanayin ruwa a matsayin tushen abinci da maginin ruwa.