Schizobrachiella verrilli (Bryozoa, Cheilostomata) new to Europe

Found at four sites in the coastal waters of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, an encrusting cheilostomatous bryozoan unknown from Europe was identified by microscopical and scanning electron microscope studies as Schizobrachiella verrilli (Cheilostomata, Schizoporellidae). Until now, it was only known from the Atlantic coast of North America. Historic data confirms the existence of S. verrilli in the North Sea since 1905 and the few recent findings suggest that S. verrilli is a rare species living at refugial sites such as the sublittoral shell banks of the North Sea.