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Family: Cladocorynidae
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Polyp: Colony stolonal; perisarc-covered hydrorhiza embedded in host tissues. Hydranth with 6 oral moniliform tentacles and up to 30 quasi-moniliform aboral tentacles; up to 4 patches of macrobasic euryteles under hypostome. Reproduction: Gonophores released as free medusae, buds borne singly or in groups. Adult medusa with 2 large tentacular bulbs and 2 small atentaculate bulbs with pouches containing macrobasic euryteles; tentacles bearing up to 100 cnidophores; manubrium conical, with interradial gonads. Ecology and Distribution: Epibiotic species, found on alcyonaceans; reported in the Caribbean and Red Seas and in the Central Indo-Pacific. In Bocas del Toro collected in Punta Caracol and Almirante. Remarks: Another Pteroclava species has been described (P. crassa). It can be distinguished from P. krempfi based on its host, which is the hydrozoan Macrorhynchia philippina. |