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Ponto-caspian freshwater hydroid
Sponge & Cnidarian
Ponto-caspian freshwater hydroid
Cordylophora caspia (Pallas, 1771)
WoRMS AphialID
117428
Sample IDs
HMSC174_01211 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCCN052-24; HMSC174_02278 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCCN075-24; HMSC174_02279 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCCN076-24; HMSC174_02280 https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/MAS_DataRetrieval_OpenSpecimen?selectedrecordid=ATCCN077-24
Collected
Saguenay Fjord National Park,
Distinguishing Features
• Erect branched colonies up to 150 mm tall but usually around 30–45 mm.
• Often one main stem with shorter side branches.
Annulations at base of stems and branches
Colonies can have over 40 hydranths.
• Hydranths spindle shaped with 16–20 filiform tentacles on their upper half.
• Gonophores are oval and born on short pedicels.
Habitat
In shallow fresh or brackish water on rocks, sticks, and eelgrass.
Geographic Range
Native to the Black Sea-Caspian Sea. Introduced to temperate and tropical coastal regions around the world. First reported in North America in 1870 from Rhode Island. Introduced to Atlantic Canada, recorded in 1912 from the Miramichi Estuary.
Fun Fact
This species is successful as an invader as it can tolerate a wide range of conditions. While it is most abundant in brackish and freshwater but can tolerate full seawater. It can also tolerate temperatures between 0 and 30°C.
Barcode Distribution
N/A
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