Description:
Living colonies of Savignyella lafontii are distinguished by their uniserial, jointed branches, and their brick red to brownish color, which results from pigmentation in the polypides, or from the presence of embryos within zooids. Individual zooids are somewhat trumpet shaped.  Zooids measure approximately 0.03 - 0.06 inches in length. The orifice is semicircular in shape and is surrounded by a raised peristome with 4 spines. Suborally, there is a large, pointed avicularium with a triangular mandible. The horseshoe-shaped lophophore surrounding the mouth bears 17 - 19 tentacles.

Habitat:
Typical habitats for bryozoans in the Indian River Lagoon include seagrasses, mangrove roots, drift algae, oyster reef, dock, pilings, breakwaters, and man-made debris. S. lafontii occurred on the roots of hydroids, most commonly on those of Thyroscyphus. It was also found intermingling with Vittaticella among hydroid roots. It is also reported to occur on algae, sponges and on other bryozoans such as Zoobotryon.  S. lafontii occurs year-round in Florida, but is most common from September through December.

Range:
S. lafontii is highly cosmopolitan in warm waters. In the western Atlantic, its range extends from east coast of Florida, to Brazil.  S. lafontii is found at coastal stations all along the Indian River Lagoon. Within the IRL, it has observed at the Sebastian Inlet grass flats, and other  inlet locations.