Planar hydroid

The planar hydroid (Sertularella arbuscula) is a branching colonial hydroid in the family Sertulariidae.[1]

Planar hydroid
Planar hydroid with reproductive bodies
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Leptothecata
Family: Sertularellidae
Genus: Sertularella
Species:
S. arbuscula
Binomial name
Sertularella arbuscula
(Lamouroux, 1816)

Description
Planar hyfroids at the wreck of the SAS Pietermaritzburg in False Bay

Planar hydroids are bright yellow and branched in one plane with a zig-zag appearance to the stems. The colonies usually grow up to 30 cm in height.[2]

Distribution

This colonial animal is found off the southern African coast from Saldanha Bay to central Mozambique, as well as off Vema Seamount, through the Indian Ocean and off Australia, down to 219m under water.[2]

Ecology

Planar hydroids live on vertical subtidal rock faces perpendicular to normal water flow. They feed on plankton.[2]

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References
  1. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=117895 accessed 17 August 2013
  2. Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
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