colonial

2001).

On fixed objects, also epizoic. Although a well-distributed species few details of its biology are available.

The main stem of the colony is erect and composed of several fibres. The hydrothecae arise irregularly from all sides of the stem and branches. They are long and tubular in shape, tapering towards their base. They are attached to the main stem by a short pedicel. The rim of the hydrotheca lacks any opercular flaps. Gonothecae are rarely produced. Erect colonies to 100mm. It is debatable whether the other forms of Lafoea which consist of creeping stolons on other hydroids are distinct species.

Gulf of St. Lawrence (unspecified region), northern Gaspe waters, southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: Eastern Bradelle Valley), Magdalen Islands (from the eastern Bradelle valley to West, as far as Cape North, including the Cape Breton Channel) and Prince Edward Island (from the northern tip of Miscou Island, N.B. to Cape Breton Island south of Cheticamp, including the Northumberland Strait and Georges Bay to the Canso Strait causeway), middle North Shore (from Sept- Iles to Cape Whittle, including the Mingan Islands), North slope of Anticosti Island, and Western slope of Newfoundland , including the southern part of the Strait of Belle Isle but excluding the upper 50 m in the area southwest of Newfoundland.

semi-cosmopolitan

Cobscook Bay, Doggersbank, Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone, English Channel, European waters (ERMS scope), Gulf of Maine, Gulf of Mexico, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, Mediterranean Sea, New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone, North Sea, North West Atlantic, Saguenay Fjord, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, Villefranche-Sur-Mer

Mid-Atlantic Ridge: Rainbow. Shallow to deep waters of all oceans [concept of species as defined by CORNELIUS (1975)].

Widespread around the British Isles except in the southern North Sea and eastern English Channel.

Stolonal or erect colonies, often a combination of both; erect colonies very irregularly branched, often with anastomoses, mono- or polysiphonic, the latter being composed of several adnate parallel tubes all bearing hydrothecae on all sides, occasionally in more or less opposite and decussate arrangement. Hydrotheca tubular to elongated conical, frequently asymmetrical, rim circular, usually renovated. Hydrotheca narrowing basally into frequently almost imperceptible pedicel; other colonies may have a well developed, twisted hydrothecal pedicel. Hydranth extensile, with about 20 amphicoronate tentacles around conical proboscis, attached deep inside hydrothecae by means of ring of desmocytes; coenosarc yellowish. Gonothecae aggregated into ovoid, several mm long coppinia on stem or branches, hermaphroditic, with many strongly curved accessory tubes protruding from between gonothecae. Gonothecae amphora-shaped, strongly adnate. Presence of acrocyst unknown. Coppiniae rare, reproduction apparently frequently vegetative. Nematocysts: Isorhiza?s of two size classes (about 21 and 16 ?m length, not in same colony!) and a smaller unidentified capsule, 6 ?m long (SCHUCHERT

Erect colony up to 100 mm high; length of hydrotheca varied between 150 and 800 ?m, diameter at rim 100-200 ?m; greatest dimensions in specimens from cold water.

intertidal, bathyal, infralittoral and circalittoral of th eGUlf and estuary

Depth range based on 16 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 7 - 70
  Temperature range (°C): -0.262 - 2.411
  Nitrate (umol/L): 1.800 - 2.191
  Salinity (PPS): 27.473 - 28.357
  Oxygen (ml/l): 7.326 - 7.573
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.106 - 0.113
  Silicate (umol/l): 7.173 - 8.544

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 7 - 70

Temperature range (°C): -0.262 - 2.411

Nitrate (umol/L): 1.800 - 2.191

Salinity (PPS): 27.473 - 28.357

Oxygen (ml/l): 7.326 - 7.573

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.106 - 0.113

Silicate (umol/l): 7.173 - 8.544
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

The erect form is normally found on vertical surfaces or beneath overhangs, attached to bedrock or boulders.