The planar hydroid (''Sertularella arbuscula'') is a branching colonial hydroid in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Sertulariidae Sertulariidae is a family (biology), family of hydrozoans. Genera According to the World Register of Marine Species, the following genus, genera belong to this family: *''Abietinaria'' Kirchenpauer, 1884 *''Amphisbetia'' L. Agassiz, 1862 *''Cale ...

Description

Planar hydroids at the wreck of SAS Pietermaritzburg P7260795

Planar hydroids are bright yellow and branched in one plane with a zig-zag appearance to the stems. The colonies usually grow up to 30 cm in height.Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa''

Distribution

This colonial animal is found off the southern African coast from Saldanha Bay to central Mozambique, as well as off

Vema Seamount Vema Seamount is a seamount in the South Atlantic Ocean. Discovered in 1959 by a ship with the same name, it lies from Tristan da Cunha and northwest of Cape Town. The seamount has a flat top at a mean depth of which was eroded into the seamou ...

, through the Indian Ocean and off Australia, down to 219m under water.

Ecology

Planar hydroids live on vertical subtidal rock faces perpendicular to normal water flow. They feed on plankton.

References

Sertularellidae Animals described in 1816 {{leptothecata-stub