Hydractinia altispina

Hydractinia altispina, or high-spined commensal hydroid, is a small colonial hydroid in the family Hydractiniidae.[1]

Hydractinia altispina
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Anthoathecata
Family: Hydractiniidae
Genus: Hydractinia
Species:
H. altispina
Binomial name
Hydractinia altispina
Millard, 1955

Description

High-spined commensal hydroids grow as a fuzzy-looking orange coat usually on the shell of a marine snail, the scaly dogwhelk Nucella squamosa. Individual polyps grow to 0.4cm in total height. The polyps are naked and cluster on the shell surface, interspersed with defensive spines and tiny ball-like reproductive structures. [2]

Distribution

This colonial animal is found only off the southern African coast from Luderitz to False Bay, Cape Town subtidally and to at least 30m under water.[2]

gollark: They presumably don't want to lose the laptop.
gollark: Like I said, it might be too old.
gollark: If it's ancient enough you might need a USB to IDE adapter or something. I only have one for serial SATA.
gollark: Anyway, ask about the password first...
gollark: You can probably get the HDD out and read off the data.

References
  1. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=284838 accessed 13 August 2013
  2. Millard, N.A.H. 1975. Monograph on the Hydroida of Southern Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 68:1-513
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