Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Hydrozoa

Order: Leptothecata

Suborder: Conica

Family: Sertulariidae

Scientific name: Thuiaria thuja

 

Norwegian: -

(Leksa - Sør-Trøndelag / 3.23.2008 / 22 meters)

Distribution: This hydroid is well-known from the west coast of Norway, but can probably be found all along the Norwegian coast. It seems to prefer hard substrate on any depth from the subtidal zone and down to 800 meters.

Characteristics: The colony may grow to a height of 25 cm. Mature colonies takes a narrow and cylindrical bottle-brush shape, where the lower parts of the stem is without branches. Young colonies have a zig-zag stem and alternating branches. On the similar T. articulata the stem is straight and the branches are usually opposite, rather than alternating. Other similar species have so far only been registered in arctic regions.

All pictures: