Freshwater bryozoan  (Lophopus crystallinus)

Range

The freshwater bryozoan is found in various countries in Europe, but its precise status is presently unclear, although it is classified as Rare in the British Red Data Book (1). Since 1970 it has only been recorded from 5 sites in Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Humberside and Lancashire (3). Following recent work commissioned by Action for Invertebrates and further work conducted by Reading University, two sites are currently known, Barton Blow Wells in north Lincolnshire, and Chil Brook in Oxfordshire (5). Elsewhere, it also occurs in the Middle East, and America, where it is rare (4).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

This species grows on the underside of various substrate types such as plants, rock, wood, plastic, glass, and shells in freshwater lakes, ponds, ditches and rivers (2).

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