Eudendrium sp. 5

(pl. 1I)

Material examined. Stn. FSI — 06.i.2011, S20 (20 m): a single, sterile colony, 6 cm high, heavily overgrown by Hydractinia pacifica and Bimeria vestita (MHNG-INVE-79607).

Description. The material comprises a 6 cm high structure obscured by profuse, inextricable, additional hydroid overgrowth. Terminally, monosiphonic stems of Eudendrium, up to 2 cm high, are clearly discernible. Stems irregularly branched in all planes, basal part of branches with wrinkled perisarc. Branchlets with terminal hydranths, typical of the genus, bearing 17–22 tentacles. Gonophores absent. Nematocysts:

- small [(7.7–8.4)×(4.0–4.4) µm], asymmetric-ovoid microbasic euryteles, abundant in tentacles, hydranth body and coenosarc of stem and branches;

- large [(24.7–29.0)×(9.4–10.4) µm], elongated capsules, possibly microbasic euryteles, abundant in the hypostome, the lower half of hydranth body, also occurring more rarely in the coenosarc of stem and branches.

Remarks. It is impossible to ascertain whether the available material represents a large, polysiphonic colony of Eudendrium, or another substrate overgrown by this hydroid and its congeners.

Distribution in Chile. Strait of Magellan (present study).