| Family: |
Sertulariidae () |
| Max. size: |
9 cm COLD (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthic; marine; depth range 57 - 550 m |
| Distribution: |
Antarctic. |
| Diagnosis: |
Colonies composed of a mass of tightly interwoven branches and stems, giving the colony the aspect of a globular network, up to 9 cm in diameter. Branching frequent, irregular and in several planes; with anastomoses. Hydrothecae arranged in decussate pairs, forming four longitudinal rows of hydrothecae. Hydrothecae immersed into the branches for approximately one-third of their volume. Adcauline hydrothecal wall free for one eighth to one-third of its length. Free adcauline wall approximately straight. Abcauline wall almost straight, though becoming concave distally. Hydrothecal aperture mainly circular and slightly tilted downwards; rim either even and the aperture circular, or uneven, due to the presence of a more or less distinct abcauline elevation. Male and female gonothecae present. Female gonothecae as those of Staurotheca antarctica and Staurotheca compressa. Male gonothecae fusiform, occasionally with a few downwardly directed digitiform processes. |
| Biology: |
Depth based on occurrence record; to be replaced with better reference. Growing on epibiotic on hydroids and on non-calcified bryozoans. Also found it epibiotic on bryozoans; used in turn as a substratum by other hydroids (Ref. 7414). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
| Country info: |
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