Distribution and habitat
Plate showing colonies and statoblasts of Cristatella mucedo from: Allman, G.J. 1856. A monograph of the Fresh-water Polyzoa, including all the known species, both British and foreign. The Ray Society 28: 1-119.
Distribution
Cristatella mucedo is found in North America, the British Isles, Europe and Asia.
Habitat
It prefers still or slowly-moving waters but is otherwise broadly tolerant.
Cristatella mucedo colonies have been found in recently-formed gravel pits through to well-established sites (Okamura 1997) and from oligotrophic to eutrophic conditions.
Colonies are found attached to a range of natural and artificial substrata where they are protected from sedimentation – such as undersides or vertical faces.
Natural substrata include
- submerged branches
- roots
- rocks
- macrophytes
Artificial substrata include
- pier pilings
- tyres
- buoys
- plastics