Tubularia

{{Short description|Genus of hydrozoans}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Tubularia indivisa, hydranth of male colony (from Allman, 1872).png | taxon = Tubularia | authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''Tubularia acadiae'' * ''Tubularia amoyensis'' * ''Tubularia asymmetrica'' * ''Tubularia aurea'' * ''Tubularia couthouyi'' * ''Tubularia harrimani'' * ''Tubularia hodgsoni'' * ''Tubularia indivisa'' * ''Tubularia longstaffi'' * ''Tubularia regalis'' }}

'''''Tubularia''''' is a genus of hydroids resembling furry pink tufts or balls at the end of long strings, spawning the common name as either the '''pink-mouthed''' or '''pink-hearted hydroid'''.

== Description == thumb|left|''Tubularia indivisa'' The average height of an individual colony is {{Convert|4–6|cm|abbr=off|frac=2}} and the diameter of the polyp and tentacles is {{Convert|1|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}}.

''Tubularia'' occurs either individually or in colonies, both being dioecious and possessing large, brilliantly coloured, flowerlike hydrants. Medusae remain attached to the hypostome in clusters, never being dispersed.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}

=== Life cycle === During the summer, sperm are released into the water and attracted to female reproductive structures by means of a chemical substance. Internal fertilization occurs in the female medusoids. The fertilized eggs develop into actinula.<ref>Somodevilla, Alina. "Ectopleura Larynx." ''Anima Diversity Web''. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.</ref> These larvae develop directly into a new polyp. Although the medusa are attached to the polyp, the life cycle resembles that of typical Cnidarian with the polyp reproducing asexually and the medusa producing egg and sperm.<ref>Fish, J. D., and S. Fish. ''A Student's Guide to the Seashore''. New York: Cambridge UP, 2011. Print </ref>

=== Similar taxa === ''Tubularia indivisa'' may be difficult to distinguish from ''Ectopleura larynx'', with the two often growing together. The stems of ''E. larynx'' are branched while those of ''T. indivisa'' are not.<ref>Characteristics." ''Ringed Tubularia - Ectopleura Larynx''. 29 May 2015. Web.</ref>

==References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.njscuba.net/biology/sw_plant-like.html#Hydroids New Jersey Scuba Diver - Plant-like Animals] * [http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=D1450 Marine Life Encyclopedia] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231942/http://www.mbl.edu/marine_org/marine_org.php?func=detail&myID=BX10002 MBL Marine Organisms Database page]

Category:Tubulariidae Category:Hydrozoan genera