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: 6_4, give me the code or face my wrath more wrathfully.
gollark: βεες
gollark: PotatOS exploits must be patched to ensure the integrity of the code.
gollark: Also 6_4 give me the source code or else.
gollark: Happy chicken, FiveMaina5!

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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