Tubularia

Tubularia is a genus of hydroids that appear to be furry pink tufts or balls at the end of long strings, thus causing them to be sometimes be called "pink-mouthed" or "pink-hearted" hydroids. Their average height is 40–60 mm and the diameter of the polyp and tentacles is 10mm. Tubularia indivisa and Ectopleura larynx can be difficult to distinguish and the two often grow together. In E. larynx the stems branch while in T. indivisa they are unbranched.[1] Tubularia occurs either solitary or in colonies. The hydrants are large, brilliantly coloured and flower like. The colony is dioecious. The gonophores or medusae remain attached to the hypostome in clusters and are never set free. This animals represents structure of the ancestral coelenterate.

Tubularia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Anthoathecata
Family: Tubulariidae
Genus: Tubularia
Linnaeus, 1758
Species
  • Tubularia acadiae
  • Tubularia amoyensis
  • Tubularia asymmetrica
  • Tubularia aurea
  • Tubularia couthouyi
  • Tubularia harrimani
  • Tubularia hodgsoni
  • Tubularia indivisa
  • Tubularia longstaffi
  • Tubularia regalis

Life cycle

During the summer time, sperm are released into the water and attracted to female reproductive structures by means of a chemical substance. Internal fertilization occurs in the female medusoids. The fertilized eggs develop into actinula.[2] These larvae develop directly into a new polyp. Although the medusa are attached to the polyp, the life cycle resembles that of typical Cnidarian with the polyp reproducing asexually and the medusa producing egg and sperm.[3]

References
  1. Characteristics." Ringed Tubularia - Ectopleura Larynx. 29 May 2015. Web.
  2. Somodevilla, Alina. "Ectopleura Larynx." Anima Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
  3. Fish, J. D., and S. Fish. A Student's Guide to the Seashore. New York: Cambridge UP, 2011. Print


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