Description
Also known as Common Sea Fern, Cypress Hydroid, Feather Hydroid, Fire Hydroid, Fireweed, Sea Fern, Stinging Hydrozoan, Stinging Sea Fern, Stinging Seaweed.
Found in colonies, over shallow reefs, with moderate current.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 60cm
Depth - 1-40m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific
This common and very distinctive hydroid has a powerful sting and should be avoided. It is preyed upon by the nudibranch Doto ussi.
Hydroids look like tiny ferns or feathers, many are smaller than 5cm although some can grow to 50cm.
They are found competing for space with sponges on bare patches of dead coral and rocks.
Stinging hydroid polyps are very small and are carried on the stem and side branches of feather/fern like colonies. The specific layout of the polyps on the branches, as well as the arrangement of the branches are used to classify different species.
The class Hydrozoa encompasses the most diverse group of venomous species and includes the stinging hydroids, hydrocorals (firecorals) and the portugese man of war (siphonophore)
Some species can inflict painful stings. (edit)
Ref: https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Aglaophenia-cupressina.html
1 comment
Posted by nicholasHow many people have been killed by the stinging hydroid