Cribrilina punctata is an encrusting bryozoan. Colonies form small, irregular patches that are white in colour. The autozooids are small, strongly convex and range in size from 0.4-0.55 by 0.26–0.4 mm. Young autozooids have three to five long slender spines.

The species is able to colonise a range of substrates including algae, stones and shells. It ranges from the very lower shore to offshore subtidal waters as deep as 219 m. In the intertidal zone it is uncommon and seems to be replaced by Cribrilina cryptooecium, except on the northern coasts of Britain.

Cribrilina punctata is distributed from the Barents Sea southwards to the western end of the English Channel. It has been recorded from the Faroes, Shetland, the North Sea, the Irish Sea, west coast of Ireland and in the western English Channel.

Extensive taxonomic confusion has existed between C. punctata, C. cryptooecium and Collarina balzaci,  therefore records from further afield that those outlined above must be regarded with caution. Cribrilina punctata is thought not to occur in the Mediterranean.

Atlantic, British Isles, Calais, Dutch Coast, European waters (ERMS scope), Irish Exclusive economic Zone, North West Atlantic, Northumberland, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, USA, Westhinder, Zeebrugge

Gulf of St. Lawrence (unspecified region), southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: eastern Bradelle Valley), northern Gaspe waters, Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway); middle North Shore (from Sept- Iles to Cape Whittle, including the Mingan Islands)

Known from rocky shores.

infralittoral and circalittoral of the Gulf and estuary

Depth range based on 68 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 37 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 686
  Temperature range (°C): -1.947 - 16.315
  Nitrate (umol/L): 0.326 - 31.195
  Salinity (PPS): 32.125 - 38.201
  Oxygen (ml/l): 4.958 - 7.317
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.096 - 2.066
  Silicate (umol/l): 1.379 - 61.249

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 686

Temperature range (°C): -1.947 - 16.315

Nitrate (umol/L): 0.326 - 31.195

Salinity (PPS): 32.125 - 38.201

Oxygen (ml/l): 4.958 - 7.317

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.096 - 2.066

Silicate (umol/l): 1.379 - 61.249
 
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