The planar hydroid (Sertularella arbuscula) is a branching colonial hydroid in the family Sertulariidae.[1]
| Planar hydroid | |
|---|---|
| |
| Planar hydroid with reproductive bodies | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Hydrozoa |
| Order: | Leptothecata |
| Family: | Sertularellidae |
| Genus: | Sertularella |
| Species: | S. arbuscula
|
| Binomial name | |
| Sertularella arbuscula (Lamouroux, 1816)
| |
Description
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Planar hydroids are bright yellow and branched in one plane with a zig-zag appearance to the stems. The colonies usually grow up to 30 cm in height.[2]
Distribution
editThis colonial animal is found off the southern African coast from Saldanha Bay to central Mozambique, as well as off Vema Seamount, through the Indian Ocean and off Australia, down to 219m under water.[2]
Ecology
editPlanar hydroids live on vertical subtidal rock faces perpendicular to normal water flow. They feed on plankton.[2]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sertularella arbuscula.
- ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Sertularella arbuscula (Lamouroux, 1816)". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
- ^ a b c Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa ISBN 978-1-77007-772-0
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