Description: This erect branching bryozoan only reaches around 30 mm in height. Branching is dichotomous but irregular, and branches are flattened, occasionally becoming fused. They may have a fuzzy appearance. The zooids are quite variable in shape and can be rectangular, hexagonal or oval and are separated by distinct sutures. The colour of the colony is a pale orange or yellow.

Habitat: On bedrock and boulders below the kelp zone.

Distribution: Scattered records from all around Britain and Ireland, but most records concentrated in the north. Most common in North Channel and west coast of Scotland.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Porella compressa although it is larger and more brightly coloured. Could also be confused with Omalosecosa ramulosa but it lacks the flattened branches.

Key Identification Features:

• Pale orange to yellow branching bryozoan up to 30 mm in height.
• Flattened branches which may have a fuzzy appearance.
• Irregular dichotomous branching.

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

iNaturalist: Palmiskenea skenei at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Palmiskenea skenei

WoRMS: Palmiskenea skenei at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Palmiskenea skenei (Ellis & Solander, 1786). AphiaID: 111120.

Classification: Biota; Animalia; Bryozoa; Gymnolaemata; Cheilostomatida; Flustrina; Lepralielloidea; Bryocryptellidae; Palmiskenea