Tubularia indivisa Linnaeus, 1758

Tubularia indivisa

Description: The stem of this hydroid has a tough, yellowish coloured tegument. Usually the stems are clustered together and fuse with each other towards the base of the colony. The polyp colour is pale pink through to red, and consists of a central circlet of oral tentacles surrounded by paler but larger aboral tentacles. Gonothecae arise within this inner set of tentacles. Overall height 100-150mm, diameter of the polyp and tentacles about 15mm.

Habitat: A characteristic species of current swept bedrock and boulders, which may attach to other substrata such as kelp stipes.

Distribution: This species is common on all coasts of the British Isles.

Similar Species: Could be confused with Tubularia larynx.

Key Identification Features:

• Large polyps with an outer ring and inner cluster of tentacles, borne singly at the tip of tubular stems.
• Stems arise singly and unbranched from a clustered mass at the base, producing irregular, straggly colonies.

Distribution Map: NBN map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

WoRMS: Species record : World Register of Marine Species.

iNaturalist: Species account : iNaturalist World Species Observations database