Toothed feather hydroid

Toothed feather hydroid
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Medusozoa
Class: Hydrozoa
Subclass: Hydroidolina
Order: Leptothecata
Superfamily: Plumularioidea
Family: Aglaopheniidae
Genus: Aglaophenia
Species: A. pluma
Binomial name
Aglaophenia pluma
(Linnaeus, 1758)

The toothed feather hydroid, Aglaophenia pluma, also sometimes called the podded hydroid, is a colonial hydroid in the family Aglaopheniidae.[1]

Description

Toothed feather hydroids are upright colonial hydroids with stems which may grow to 3cm in total height though the colony may be larger. They have unbranched yellow stems and reproductive bodies that resemble pine-cones.[2]

Distribution

This colonial animal is found worldwide. It lives from the shore to 120m under water.[2]

Ecology

This species has a sting which may cause swelling of the affected area in humans.[2]

Synonym

The following species are considered as synonyms of Aglaophenia pluma:[1]

References

  1. 1 2 http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=117283 accessed 4 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
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