Candelabrum sp.

Candelabrum sp.
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Size: 1.5 cm

Distribution: Unknown. These are the first known records (O'Sullivan Beach)

Habitat: Rocky areas under rocks

Depth: Shallow subtidal

Candelabrum sp.
Candelabrum sp.
Candelabrum sp.
Candelabrum sp.
Candelabrum sp.
Candelabrum sp.

This species is the only member of the genus Candelabrum known from South Australia and is found attached to the underside of rocks in the shallow subtidal region. These hydroids have a unique appearance, and consist of three areas; a conical tentacle-bearing region used for feeding, an area containing the spherical reproductive gonophores, and a brown, wrinkled hydrorhiza which attaches the colony to the rock. This species does not appear to match the two Candelabrum species known from temperate Australia (C. australe and C. harrisoni), and is probably a previously unknown and/or undescribed species.