Umbonula littoralis

Researched By	Dr Keith Hiscock	Data Supplied By	MarLIN
Refereed by	Dr Peter J. Hayward
Taxonomy
Scientific name	Umbonula littoralis	Common name	An encrusting bryozoan
MCS Code	Y349	Recent Synonyms	None
Phylum	Bryozoa	Subphylum
Superclass		Class	Gymnolaemata
Subclass		Order	Cheilostomatida
Suborder	Ascophorina	Family	Umbonulidae
Genus	Umbonula	Species	littoralis
Subspecies
Additional Information	No text entered
Taxonomy References	Hastings, 1944, Hayward & Ryland, 1979
General Biology
Growth form	Crustose hard	Feeding method	Active suspension feeder
Mobility/Movement	Permanent attachment	Environmental position	Epifaunal
Typical food types	Suspended material	Habit	Attached
Bioturbator	Not relevant	Flexibility	None (< 10 degrees)
Fragility	Fragile	Size	Very small(<1cm)
Height		Growth Rate	Insufficient information
Adult dispersal potential	Not researched	Dependency	Independent
Sociability	Colonial
Toxic/Poisonous?	No
Additional Information	Umbonula littoralis is a hermaphrodite. The size range given above is for individual zooids.
Biology References	Hastings, 1944, Hayward & Ryland, 1979
Distribution and Habitat
Distribution in Britain & Ireland	Present all around the British Isles.
Global distribution	Present from Bergen, Norway south along the western Atlantic coast to at least the Channel Isles and western Brittany. Not present in the Mediterranean.
Biogeographic range	Not researched	Depth range	Intertidal to 6 m
Migratory	Non-migratory / Resident
Distribution Additional Information	No text entered
Substratum preferences	Bedrock, Large to very large boulders, Small boulders, Cobbles	Physiographic preferences	Open coast, Strait / sound, Ria / Voe, Enclosed coast / Embayment
Biological zone	Sublittoral Fringe, Upper Infralittoral	Wave exposure	Extremely Exposed, Very Exposed, Exposed, Moderately Exposed, Sheltered
Tidal stream strength/Water flow	Very Strong (>6 kn), Strong (3-6 kn), Moderately Strong (1-3 kn), Weak (<1 kn)	Salinity	Full (30-40 psu)
Habitat Additional Information
Distribution References	Hastings, 1944, Hayward & Ryland, 1979, NBN, 2002, Picton & Costello, 1998
Reproduction/Life History
Reproductive type	Permanent hermaphrodite	Developmental mechanism	Lecithotrophic
Reproductive Season	June to November	Reproductive Location
Reproductive frequency	Biannual protracted	Regeneration potential	No
Life span	Insufficient information	Age at reproductive maturity	Insufficient information
Generation time	Insufficient information	Fecundity	Insufficient information
Egg/propagule size		Fertilization type
Larvae/Juveniles Larval/Juvenile dispersal potential Insufficient information Larval settlement period Duration of larval stage Insufficient information
Additional Information	The dispersal phase is probably brief and larvae probably do not travel far. Embryos were recorded as present in the Plymouth area in June and August (Marine Biological Association, 1957), from October and November on the north-east coast of England (Hastings, 1944) and from September to February in Manx waters (Eggleston, 1969).
Reproduction References	Hastings, 1944, MBA, 1957, Eggleston, 1972, Hayward & Ryland, 1979, Eggleston, 1969