Species description: This is an erect bryozoan which forms dense, tufted colonies made up of individual zooids. These colonies can be up to 3 cm tall and are pale yellowish to brown in colour. The branches have zooids arranged in rows of two, increasing to four across just below each branching point.

Habitat: Artificial substrata in harbours and marinas.

Distribution: First reported in Northern Ireland in 2012 from Strangford Lough. Now recorded from Glenarm, Bangor and Rathlin marinas as well as Islandmagee. Scattered records from all around Britain but no records from southern Ireland yet.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Bugulina simplex but it has 5-6 zooids below each branching point while B. fulva only has 4.

Key Identification Features:

• Erect bryozoan pal yellow to brown in colour.
• Branches have zooids in rows of two, increasing to four just below each branching point.

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

iNaturalist: Bugulina fulva at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Bugulina fulva at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Bugulina fulva (Ryland, 1960). AphiaID: 834010.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Bryozoa; Gymnolaemata; Cheilostomatida; Flustrina; Buguloidea; Bugulidae; Bugulina