Gattya humilis
Appearance
Gattya humilis | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Snowdrop hydroid with Doto coronata | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Cnidaria |
Class: | Hydrozoa |
Order: | Leptothecata |
Family: | Halopterididae |
Genus: | Gattya |
Species: | G. humilis
|
Binomial name | |
Gattya humilis Allman, 1885
| |
Synonyms | |
|
Gattya humilis, the snowdrop hydroid, is a delicate colonial hydroid in the family Halopterididae.[1]
Description
Snowdrop hydroids are usually white and have small branches extending from a central stem. They may grow up to 3 cm in total height. The male gonophores (reproductive bodies) are smaller and more rounded than the female ones, which are goblet-shaped and contain only one egg each. Both sexes occur on the same stem.[2]
Distribution
This colonial animal is found off the southern African coast from Northern Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal from the subtidal to 70m under water. It is only found in this region.[2]
Ecology
This species often grows on coralline algae or weed.[2]
References
- ^ http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=289983 accessed 19 August 2013
- ^ a b c Millard, N.A.H. 1975. Monograph on the Hydroida of Southern Africa. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 68:1-513
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gattya humilis.