''Gattya humilis'', the snowdrop hydroid, is a delicate colonial hydroid in the family

Halopterididae Halopterididae is a family of hydrozoans. According to the World Register of Marine Species, the following genera belong to the family Halopterididae: *'' Anarthroclada'' Naumov, 1955 *'' Antennella'' Allman, 1877 *'' Antennellopsis'' Jäderhol ...

Description

Snowdrop hydroids are usually white and have small branches extending from a central stem. They may grow up to 3 cm in total height. The male gonophores (reproductive bodies) are smaller and more rounded than the female ones, which are goblet-shaped and contain only one egg each. Both sexes occur on the same stem. Millard, N.A.H. 1975. Monograph on the Hydroida of Southern Africa. ''Ann. S. Afr. Mus.'' 68:1-513

Distribution

This colonial animal is found off the southern African coast from Northern Namibia to KwaZulu-Natal from the subtidal to 70m under water. It is only found in this region.

Ecology

This species often grows on coralline algae or weed.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1965871 Halopterididae Animals described in 1885