Macrorhynchia filamentosa

Macrorhynchia filamentosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Hydrozoa
Order:Leptothecata
Family:Aglaopheniidae
Genus:Macrorhynchia
Species: M. filamentosa
Binomial name
Macrorhynchia filamentosa
(Lamarck, 1816)
Synonyms
  • Lytocarpus filamentosus (Lamarck, 1816)

Macrorhynchia filamentosa, the smoky feather hydroid, 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 on humans.[2]

References

  1. 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
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.