Belgian Exclusive Economic Zone, British Isles, European waters (ERMS scope), Hinder Banks, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, North West Atlantic, Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone, Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone

southern Gaspe waters (Baie des Chaleurs, Gaspe Bay to American, Orphan and Bradelle banks; eastern boundary: eastern Bradelle Valley), Gulf of St. Lawrence (unspecified region), lower North shore; middle North Shore (from Sept- Iles to Cape Whittle, including the Cape Breton Channel)

Hippothoa divaricata is widely distributed in the North Atlantic from Spitzbergen south to the Bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean. Records from outside this area are unreliable, owing to confusion with related species.

Hippothoa divaricata forms adnate runner-like colonies composed of delicate uniserial branches, closely adhering to the substrate. The species is typically small, glossy and pearly white in colour. Autozooids are slender and club-shaped, with a long narrow thread-like portion proximally (closest to the colony origin) and a dilated distal section. The slender proximal section is one-half to twice as long as the distal section.

Each autozooid gives rise to a maximum of four lateral buds (new autozooids), with up to two buds each side, spreading diagonally to give an “x” shape. Autozooids are typically 0.3 mm long.

infralittoral of the Gulf and estuary

Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 1 sample.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.1 - 23.77
  Temperature range (°C): 9.823 - 9.823
  Nitrate (umol/L): 7.608 - 7.608
  Salinity (PPS): 32.111 - 32.111
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.643 - 6.643
  Phosphate (umol/l): 1.021 - 1.021
  Silicate (umol/l): 14.910 - 14.910

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.1 - 23.77
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

The species is able to colonise stones and shells. It is mainly found in subtidal waters, but also rarely on the lower shore.