Summary
Physical Description
Ecology
Life History & Behaviour
Anatomy & Physiology
Fluorescence
Evolution & Systematics
Biogeographic Distribution
References & Links | Physical Description
Leptothecata commonly called the Thecate Hydroids are a cnidarian order characterized by their reduced medusa stage. "Lepto" meaning thin and "theca" referring to the mesogloea protecting the organs.
This species of Leptothecata can be identified by a number of features. The medusa form of this species are small and range between 0.5 to 1.5 cm in diameter. The medusa bell is relatively flat as seen in the image below, it has a very thin layer of mesogloea when compared to scyphozoan and many hydrozoa. There are four radial canals radiating from the manubrium to the outer ring. Each radial canal has gonads attached. While similar species were observed to have colour pigments on their radial canal and manubrium, this spices had no pigmentation other than the statocysts which look like black spots around the outer ring canal.
View from above in relaxed state View from the side is contracted state
Close up of statocycts
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