PODOCORYNE SELENA, A NEW SPECIES OF HYDROID FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND A COMPARISON WITH HYDRACTINIA ECHINATA

¹ Department of Biological Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306

1. A new species of hydroid, Podocoryne selena, is described from the north Florida Gulf of Mexico. This hydroid has mistakenly been called P. carnea in the past; polyps are very similar in the two species. It cannot be determined whether P. carnea actually occurs in subtropical waters until mature medusae are examined in other regions.

2. Observations on the behavior of the polyps and medusae of P. selena are given.

3. The species Podocoryne selena and Hydractinia echinata are both found living on hermit crab shells in the Gulf of Mexico. The two species are compared and morphological differences are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs.