Gonothyraea loveni (Allman, 1859)

Picture: Fig. 1

Picture: Fig. 2

Picture: Fig. 3

SYNONYMY

Laomedea loveni Allman, 1859

DESCRIPTION

Colonies erect, up to 10 cm in height (Fig.1). Stem monosiphonic, frequently branching, with annulation above origins of branches (Fig.1). Hydrothecae on annulated pedicels, bell-shaped; rim delicate, castellated, cusps with shallow rounded notch (Fig.2). Gonothecae on annulated pedicels, long, widest at end, with large opening (Fig.3). Gonophores in form of sessile medusoids dangled in groups of 1-3 at the opening to gonotheca.

DISTRIBUTION IN SVALBARD

Adventfjorden, Hornsund, Magdalenefjorden, Tommeloyane

WORLD DISTRIBUTION

North Atlantic Ocean, Arctic, Australia, New Zealand, in Europe: Mediterranean Sea, Baltic Sea, around the British Isles

DEPTH

5-147 m

SUBSTRATE

algae, Balanus sp., Bivalve, Bryozoa, crab, hydroid, rock

REPRODUCTION

sessile gonophores, reduced medusoids with a clump of 4-20 little tentacles

gonophores present