Sea tamarisk (Tamarisca tamarisca)
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Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
| Researched by | Emily Wilson | Refereed by | Admin |
| Authority | (Linnaeus, 1758) | ||
| Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
Summary
Description
A colonial hydroid that grows up to 15 cm or more. It is straggly in appearance with alternate branches, widely spaced along the stem. The hydrothecae, a supporting, nonliving, protein-chitinous envelope surrounding the stem, is large, up to 1.6 mm long, tubular and variously outward curving. It is easily mistaken for a sparsely branched form of Abietinaria abietina but is distinguished by opposite hydrothecae.
Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland
All British and Irish coasts.Global distribution
-Habitat
A circalittoral species normally found in moderate to strong tidal streams attached to bedrock or stable rocks or shells.Depth range
-Identifying features
- Colony 15 cm or more, straggly; monosiphonic throughout; branches alternate, widely spaced.
- Male gonotheca kite-shaped, flattened, tapering to short pedicel below.
- Female gonotheca conical, distal end hidden by two large, ragged flaps cut into several fingers.
Additional information
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Listed by
Bibliography
Hayward, P.J. & Ryland, J.S. (ed.) 1995b. Handbook of the marine fauna of North-West Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Howson, C.M. & Picton, B.E., 1997. The species directory of the marine fauna and flora of the British Isles and surrounding seas. Belfast: Ulster Museum. [Ulster Museum publication, no. 276.]
Datasets
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2025. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2025-05-01
Citation
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 17/07/2002
