BRYOZOA : Cheilostomatida : BugulidaeSEA MATS

Bicellariella ciliata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Fringed bryozoan


Bicellariella ciliata image: _l254871
Bicellariella ciliata

Description: This bryozoan forms erect colonies of distinctive fluffy white tufts that can reach up to 20 cm in size. There are 4-7 long curving spines on the outer edges of the zooids which are visible in a good photograph, and add to the fluffy appearance.

Habitat: Found growing on hard substrata, and other bryozoans, hydroids and algae.

Distribution: Found all around Britain and Ireland.

Similar Species: Most similar to some Bugula, Bugulina or Crisularia spp. but should be distinguishable in the field or from good photographs.

Key Identification Features:

  • Forms distinctive fluffy white tufts.
  • 4-7 long spines on outer edges of zooids.

Distribution Map from NBN: Bicellariella ciliata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Bicellariella ciliata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Bicellariella ciliata at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Picton, B.E., Keatley, L. & Morrow, C.C. (2026). Bicellariella ciliata. (Linnaeus, 1758). [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=Y8530. Accessed on 2026-11-01