Dendrobeania fessa is an erect bryozoan, originally described as a “variety” of D. pseudomurrayana. Colonies form bushy, frondose tufts, up to 3 cm high. The colonies attach to the substrate via long curling rootlets. Autozooids are elongated oblongs, approximately 0.35 by 1.0 -1.25 mm, with spines arranged around the edge of the membrane. Autozooids narrow at the base and are truncated at the distal tip.
The species is able to colonise stones, shells, hydroids and other bryozoan species e.g. Flustra foliacea. It ranges from shallow subtidal waters (3 m ) down to approximately 300 metres
Dendrobeania fessa is an Arctic-boreal species distributed in the eastern Atlantic. It has been recorded from the Barents Sea, the North Sea and northern Norway. The species reaches its southern limit in northern Britain, where its distribution becomes confused with that of D. murrayana and therefore an accurate distribution is imprecisely known.