Schizomavella sarniensis Hayward & Thorpe, 1995

Description: This red encrusting bryozoan forms extensive patches on bedrock and boulders. It has a slightly bumpy or rough surface but consists of a single layer of zooids.

Habitat: Found in sand-scoured circalittoral habitats on bedrock and boulders.

Distribution: This appears to be a southern species in the British Isles, only being known from the south-eastern corner of Ireland and the Channel Isles. As it is a recently described species it may be more widespread.

Similar Species: This is the only bryozoan within the area known to form such extensive bright red patches in the sublittoral zone.

Key Identification Features:

• Extensive red patches typically 50mm or more in size.
• Slightly bumpy surface with zooids visible at the edges.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.