Description

Also known as Fire Coral, Fire Hydroid, Hydrocoral, Lace Coral, Octocoral.

Found growing sideways like a net to ensnare passing plankton, on exposed coral and rocky reefs with strong currents .This hydroid has a powerful sting. Found in warm waters of the world.
They feed on plankton.
Length - ?cm
Depth - ?-40m
Circumtropical

They can be easily destroyed by bad weather, divers and fishing ext because their skeleton is so brittle!

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. Ref: x