Hydractinia antonii sp. nov.: a new, partially calcified hydractiniid (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Hydractiniidae) from Alaska

• Published in: Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom
• Main Author: Miglietta, Maria Pia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2006
• Subjects: Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0025315406013968; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0025315406013968

A new partially calcified hydroid species of the family Hydractiniidae, was found in offshore waters of the Aleutian Islands (Alaska), dredged from the bottom at 139–145 m depth. This is the third known species of extant calcified Hydractiniidae, and it shows a unique colony structure. The base is heavily calcified and the distal parts are ramified and have a solid chitinous structure. Branches are all in one plane and the colony reaches up to 18 cm in height.