Solanderia ericopsis

Solanderia ericopsis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Cnidaria
Class:Hydrozoa
Order:Anthoathecata
Family:Solanderiidae
Genus:Solanderia
Species: S. ericopis
Binomial name
Solanderia ericopis
(Carter 1873)
Synonyms
  • Chitina ericopsis

Solanderia ericopsis is a hydroid in the family Solanderiidae, the group commonly known as tree hydroids or sea fan hydroids. S. ericopsis forms very large, conspicuous colonies from 5 to 50 cm in height, which are often noted by divers.[1] They are usually strictly fan-shaped but can sometimes be bushy.[1]

The colonies can be unusually long-lived: during long-term monitoring of defined rock areas around the Poor Knights Islands, one researcher observed a single colony of S. ericopsis over fifteen years, during which it reached 50 cm in height.[1]

Distribution

Solanderia ericopsis is found only in New Zealand, all around the country but mostly in the North Island; it can occur in rather shallow water, at depths ranging from 2 to 200 metres.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Schuchert, Peter (1996). The Marine Fauna of New Zealand: Athecate Hydriods and their Medusae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa). Wellington: NIWA. pp. 139–142. ISBN 0-478-08377-7.
  2. ↑ "Critter of the Week: Solanderia – the tree hydroid". Critter of the Week. NIWA. 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2016-05-29.


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