Abietinaria abietina

Erling Svensen Out diving today. A lots, lots of Doto's, Gods know what kind of Doto? May be Doto coronata? Also quite many E. exiguus but they are very small now. In 2-3 weeks they become bigger (small is less than 4 millimeter - big is 5 - 7 millimeter).

Christian Skauge Beautiiiful! Woulf guess D. coronata but as you know they're almost impossible... :-)

Bernard Picton These are the Doto coronata which eat Obelia geniculata I think, Erling. We need to test, probably by sequencing a bit of DNA, to see if they are the same as the one you had the other day, which was eating Obelia dichotoma (probably). There are more or less identical, but bigger, animals eating Sertularia argentea, slightly darker ones eating Abietinaria abietina, and ones which look more or less the same eating several other hydroids. Carissa Shipman will like to see these.

Carissa Shipman It will be great to find out how genetically divergent these cryptic species are from one another. Still working on photographing them and then Terry will dissect them to look at their reproductive systems. Then I will get DNA! So much to do, but I must be systematic about it.

Becky Hitchin Here's another cool eggy pic ...

George Brown Great photo Becky. Is it Abietinaria abietina?

Andy Horton Sertularella gayi ??? No direct experience of these hydroids.

Penny Martin This would make a good Christmas card !!

Becky Hitchin From Habitas: A. abietina iis most likely to be confused with Sertularella gayi which is similar in overall size and appearance. Points to note are the alternate arrangement of the hydrothecae in Sertularella gayi whilst they are subalternate in Abietinaria abietina. I would say that this has subalternate, at least on one branch :P