Fredericella is a genus of bryozoans often involved in biofouling.

Key characteristics include:

• Tentacles arranged in a circle;
• Tubules containing bean-like capsules which are never buoyant;
• Tubules long and tangled, never fused.

Asexual reproduction in fredericellids involves dormant, egg-like capsules (“statoblasts”) less than 0.5 mm long. These are normally dormant for one to six months, capable of surviving extreme temperatures, toxins, low oxygen, and other unfavorable conditions.

Fragmentation is a second form of reproduction in this species. Free branches of the colony break off and flow with water currents to established new colonies elsewhere.

Sexual reproduction results in a swimming “larva,” (actually a motile colony in which one to four zooids are surrounded by a ciliated mantle. Released by the colony, usually after sundown, this non-feeding larva may swim freely for up to 20 hours. In settling, the larva adheres to the selected substrate and the ciliated mantle peels away. Within 30 minutes the new lophophores are extended for feeding and colony growth by zooid budding begins.

Fredericellid bryozoans grow best in flowing water. Several species survive temperatures close to freezing, while one (Internectella) has been reported from the warmest water ever recorded for a bryozoan: 37o C (99o F).