Description: This is the largest bryozoan to be found around our coasts, growing to 40cm or more across. The colony consists of a series of brittle plates joined to each other to form a domed or hemispherical colony. Small colonies start by encrusting the rock and then growing a series of upright plates.

Habitat: This species is most common in sand-scoured habitats attached to bedrock or boulders, often surrounded by coarse gravel

Distribution: A common species in the southern part of Ireland and the British Isles, becoming more scarce in Scotland, but recorded as far north as Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

Similar Species: No other species in the area forms upright lamellate colonies.

Key Identification Features:

• Plate-like colonies joined to form a hemispherical colony.
• Orange-brown colour.

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

iNaturalist: Pentapora foliacea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Pentapora foliacea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Pentapora foliacea (Ellis & Solander, 1786). AphiaID: 150672.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Bryozoa; Gymnolaemata; Cheilostomatida; Flustrina; Smittinoidea; Bitectiporidae; Pentapora