Cnidaria

Clytia linearis

Size

Colony height: reaching 1.7cm (0.7").

Recognition Characters

Colonies sometimes stolonal but usually erect arising from a creeping hydrorhiza. Erect colonies sparingly and irregularly branched; hydrocaulus monsiphonic; each branch arising from a short curved apophysis given off below hydrotheca of pedicel. Pedicel is grooved or annulated at base and near hydrothecae. Hydrothecae cone-shaped with 12-15 well formed, blunt triangular teeth.

Color

Somewhat translucent to brown or tan

Habitat & Depth

Attach to a variety of substrates including pilings, rocks, ledges, and other seaweeds. Shallow intertidal, to deeper reefs.

Distribution at GRNMS

Occasional. More common in shallow water. Found attached to other seaweeds like Sargassum or rocks.

Geographic Range

Wide Circumtropical distribution. Eastern and Western Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans

Behavior & Notes

Gonophores form free medusae.

Synonyms

Clytia fragilis (Congdon, 1907)

References

Calder 1991