Major Group: Cnidaria
Minor Group: Hydrozoa (Pennak 1989, ABRS 2004)
Order: Hydrozoa (Williams 1980) or Hydroida (Pennak 1989, ABRS 2004)
Family: Oceaniidae (formerly Clavidae)
Genus: Cordylophora
Species: caspia
This family is represented in Australian freshwaters by a single species, Cordylophora caspia Pallas. There is some discrepancy in the literature about the taxonomic level of Hydrozoa. This does not affect the identification of Clavidae. |
Descriptive Features: profusely branching, moss-like, colonial animals
feeding individuals are spindle-shaped with prominent manubrium and 10 – 20 thin scattered tentacles
reproductive polyps, gonophores, are ovoid
Size: 30 mm in height
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Cordylophora caspia, colony |
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Cordylophora caspia, colony |
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Taxonomic Checklist: Cordylophora caspia Pallas |
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Distribution: Eastern Australia
Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 3
Functional Feeding Group: predators |
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Murray River estuarine, Hindmarsh Island SA |
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Ecology: Instream habitat: Cordylophora caspia tolerates both fresh water and mildly saline waters. It occurs in still or flowing, inland or coastal waters.
Feeding ecology: All cnidarians are predators feeding on minute animals such as cladocerans and copepods. They catch their prey with tentacles armed with stinging nematocysts.
Habit: Cordylophora caspia individuals unite to form a colony structure.
Life history: |
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Information Sources: Williams 1980, Pennak 1989, Gooderham & Tsyrlin 2002 |
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