Intertidal Invertebrates of the Monterey Bay Area, California
Compiled & photographed by Gary McDonald, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa Cruz
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 19 Jan 2008.
Description: Colony erect, stiff, and bushy; branches short, annulate, extending in all planes. Polyps large and pink, with about 16-20 white tentacles. The hydranths have a trumpet-shaped hypostome.
Size: Colony up to 15cm tall.
Notes: This species is preyed upon by the nudibranch Flabellina trilineata. The orange gonophores sometimes ca sue the colonies resemble miniature orange trees.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 19 Jan 2008.
Davenport Landing, Santa Cruz Co., CA; 4 Mar 2008. Close-up showing trumpet-shaped hypostome & annulate branch.
Carmel Pt., Monterey Co., CA; 16 Nov 2009. Close-up of a single hydranth.
Davenport Landing, Santa Cruz Co., CA; 4 Mar 2008. Close-up showing bright orange fertilized eggs in blastostyle (gonophore).