Smoky feather hydroid

Smoky feather hydroid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Medusozoa
Class: Hydrozoa
Subclass: Hydroidolina
Order: Leptothecata
Superfamily: Plumularioidea
Family: Aglaopheniidae
Genus: Macrorhynchia
Species: M. filamentosa
Binomial name
Macrorhynchia filamentosa
(Lamarck, 1816)

The smoky feather hydroid, Macrorhynchia filamentosa, is a colonial hydroid in the family Aglaopheniidae.[1]

Description

Smoky feather hydroids are colonial animals with stems which may grow to 15cm in total height. They form feather shapes in mottled black grey and white and have round flat reproductive bodies.[2]

Distribution

This colonial animal is found in the southern hemisphere, around Australia, Madagascar and from central Namibia to Sodwana Bay off the southern African coastline, as well as Vema Seamount. It lives from the shore to 80m under water.[2]

Ecology

This species often grows on algae and may cause swelling if it touches bare skin in humans.[2]

Synonym

The following species is considered as a synonym of Macrorhynchia filamentosa:[1]


References

  1. 1 2 http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=284190 accessed 6 September 2013
  2. 1 2 3 Millard, N.A.H. 1975. Monograph on the Hydroida of Southern Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 68:1-513
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