Escharella labiosa

Escharella labiosa is an encrusting bryozoan. Colonies form small rounded patches, composed of a single layer of autozooids. Autozooids are oval and convex. They are separated by deep grooves and arranged in alternating linear series. The autozooids are small in size (0.38-0.5 by 0.24-0.3 mm) with four spines.

For a long time E. labiosa was regarded as a variety of Escharella immersa and therefore little is known of its biology and ecology.

It has been reported from Belfast Bay, Guernsey, the Sound of Mull, County Cork, north Cornwall and Milford Haven. It has not been reported from the English Channel or east coasts.

The species is able to colonise hard substrates in shallow subtidal waters.