Belgian Coast, British Isles, Calais, Dutch Coast, European waters (ERMS scope), Flemish Banks, Hinder Banks, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, Northumberland, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, Westkapelle

Escharella variolosa is widespread throughout the NE Atlantic and western Mediterranean. It has been reported from the southern North Sea, the English Channel and the Scilly Isles, but is apparently rare or absent from the north-east coasts of the British Isles.

Escharella variolosa is an encrusting bryozoan. Colonies form bright, glistening sheets which are white or straw coloured. The sheets are composed of a single layer of autozooids and normally cover an extensive area. Autozooids are hexagonal or quadrate, often elongated, flat or slightly convex. They range in size from 0.6-0.8 by 0.3-0.5 mm, with two (rarely three) spines present. The zooids are arranged in regular, straight oblique rows.

Depth range based on 12 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 11 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 20 - 96
  Temperature range (°C): 9.728 - 11.905
  Nitrate (umol/L): 3.145 - 6.408
  Salinity (PPS): 34.633 - 35.178
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.017 - 6.364
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.239 - 0.682
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.295 - 5.963

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 20 - 96

Temperature range (°C): 9.728 - 11.905

Nitrate (umol/L): 3.145 - 6.408

Salinity (PPS): 34.633 - 35.178

Oxygen (ml/l): 6.017 - 6.364

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.239 - 0.682

Silicate (umol/l): 2.295 - 5.963
 
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The species is able to colonise hard substrates. It occurs on other Bryozoa such as Cellaria sp and is often abundant on flat shells such as Ostrea, Chlamys and Pecten. It ranges from shallow inshore waters to at least 100 metres, but is thought to be absent from deeper waters.