Lagenipora lepralioides (Norman, 1868)

General description: 

Due to the small size and substrate preferences of this species it is almost invariably damaged by collection and therefore problematic to recognise.

Morphology: 

Lagenipora lepralioides is an encrusting bryozoan that forms small, thick white patches which are 2-3 mm in diameter. Colonies are rounded, lobed or star-shaped, with autozooids often arranged in a disorderly series. Autozooids are oval to hexagonal and very small: 0.3-0.4 mm long.

Distribution: 

Lagenipora lepralioides is known from the English Channel, the Channel Islands and the western Mediterranean. It geographic distribution is incompletely known.

Habitat: 

The species is able to colonise shell fragments and especially small pebbles, in offshore habitats.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith