General Description

Flustrellidra hispida is an encrusting bryozoan, generally restricted to the mid or lower intertidal zone, in temperate environments. It is abundant on sheltered to moderately exposed rocky shores, where it forms thick dark brown to purplish patches with a distinctly hairy or furry feel. It primarily colonises Fucus serratus, but may use other algal substrates such as Chondrus crispus, Gigartina stellata and Ascophyllum. Only very rarely does F. hispida colonise hard substrates.

The species is widely distributed and may be found on all British coasts.