Staurotheca densa Peña Cantero & Vervoort, 2003
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Family:  Sertulariidae ()
Max. size:  7 cm COLD (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 73 - 570 m
Distribution:  Circum-Antarctic.
Diagnosis:  Colonies compact (up to 7 cm in diameter), mono- or polysiphonic, without distinct main stem. Branching subdichotomous and in one plane; branching pattern, however, hidden by presence of anastomoses, giving the colony an appearance of a dense net. Branches with perisarc constrictions, delimiting internodes of variable length and of approximately same diameter. Hydrothecae present along whole length of colony and arranged in decussate verticils, typically with three to four hydrothecae per verticil, forming six to eight longitudinal rows. Verticils of hydrothecae closely packed; distal part of hydrothecae in a verticil sometimes overlapping basal part of hydrothecae in verticil above.
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 

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