Order Anthomedusae Rank Species | Subclass Leptolinae | |
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Similar Hydractinia, Anthomedusae, Leptolinae | ||
Hydractinia altispina, the high-spined commensal hydroid, is a small colonial hydroid in the family Hydractiniidae.
Contents
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.
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.
References
Hydractinia altispina Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA