Halecium curvicaule (Lorenz, 1886)

SYNONYMY

Halecium kuekenthali Marktanner-Turneretscher, 1895

DESCRIPTION

Colonies erect, up to 2 cm, monosiphonic but also reported polysiphonic. Hydrorhiza creeping. Characteristic spherical apophysis from which single or in opposite pairs branches arise (Fig.1). Branches long, straight or s-shaped. Hydrothecae shallow, with walls almost straight and rarely recurved (Fig.2). Female gonothecae with numerous transverse ribs and lateral opening where two polyps protrude, contain four eggs (Fig.3). Male gonothecae oval, smooth.

DISTRIBUTION IN SVALBARD

Hornsund, Kong Karls Land, Rijpfjorden, Tommeloyane, Wahlenbergfjorden, Wijdefjorden

WORLD DISTRIBUTION

Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, White Sea, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea

DEPTH

5-147 m

SUBSTRATE

Algae, Ascidiacea, Balanus sp., Bivalve, Bryozoa, hydroid, rock

REPRODUCTION

Fixed gonophores. Present.