Size

Colony height: 20cm (8") Colony width: reaching 2.5cm (1")

Recognition Characters

Hydroid forms feather-like plume. Branches are arranged in a bipinnate arrangement with polyps extending upward from branches.

Color

Main stem is blackish-brown, polyps are pinkish-white.

Habitat & Depth

Colonize hard bottom reefs, rocky outcroppings, and rock jetties. To 50m depth.

Distribution at GRNMS

Occasional.

Geographic Range

South Carolina, Georgia, Florida

Behavior & Notes

When this hydroid is abundant as medusae form during summer months swimmers or divers may experience mild sting.

Synonyms

Halocordyle distichia

References

Ruppert and Fox 1988