Zoology Publications from Victoria University of Wellington—Nos. 42 to 46
Abstract
Abstract
Five infertile colonies, 4-12 cm tall, of the gymnoblastic hydroid, Solanderia misakinensis (Inaba, 1892), from Auckland Harbour, and two infertile colonies from Wellington Harbour, one 30 cm tall and the other 6 cm tall, are described. Comparison of growth features between the Auckland and Wellington specimens determines the Auckland specimens as young colonies. The relationships of S. misakinensis to other species of the genus, in particular those recorded from New Zealand and Australia, are reviewed. Chitina ericopsis Carter, 1873 is almost certainly conspecific with the present material. A specimen of Solanderia fusca (Gray, 1868) collected by Pennycuik is probably the species Solanderia secunda (Inaba, 1892).
A histological study of the Auckland Harbour material confirms Vervoort's findings (1966) that the chitinous skeleton is ectodermal in origin. The pattern of growth, and the formation of the skeleton is described for a branch tip of a colony.