Sertularella crassicaulis (Heller, 1868)

Fig. 92 A–C

See Medel et al. (1991) for a complete synonymy.

Material examined. HCUS-S 0 99 (Hydrozoa Collection, University of Salento—fauna of the Salento Peninsula).

Description (based on our own observations; Gili 1986; Medel et al. 1991):

Hydroid. Hydrorhiza as a mass of tubular, branching stolons; colony erect; hydrocauli polysiphonic basally, up to ca 60 mm high, dichotomously branched in different planes, with internodes separated by oblique nodes alternately sloping towards left or right side; hydrocladia similar in structure to hydrocaulus; hydrothecae cylindrical, almost as wide as long, lateral to the axis, alternate, one per internode, adcauline wall 1/2 adnate to the internode, aperture directed to the upper part of the axis. Gonothecae elongated, ovoid, with transverse undulations, apical neck distinct, with 3 cusps.

Cnidome. Microbasic mastigophores.

Habitat type. Species widely distributed from 5 to 50 m (Boero & Fresi 1986; Gili 1986).

Substrate. Algae, hydroids, gorgonaceans, bryozoans.

Seasonality. January (Galea 2007; Puce et al. 2009), February (Stechow 1919; Puce et al. 2009), October (Stechow 1919; De Vito 2006; this study), and September–April (Boero & Fresi 1986) in several localities of the Mediterranean Sea; present all year.

Reproductive period. February (Puce et al. 2009), October (Stechow 1919; De Vito 2006; this study), and October–January (Boero & Fresi 1986) in several localities of the Mediterranean Sea; April–May (Bouillon et al. 2004).

Distribution. Endemic to the Mediterranean (Stechow 1919; Picard 1956; Rossi 1961; Gili 1986; Medel & López-González 1996; Medel et al. 1991; Bouillon et al. 2004; Gravili et al. 2008a).

Records in Salento. Rare at Otranto (De Vito 2006; Gravili 2006; Gravili et al. 2008a; this study). Remarks. For more details about the ecology of this species see Gili (1986).

References. Stechow (1919), Picard (1956), Gili (1982, 1986), Boero & Fresi (1986), Medel et al. (1991), Medel & López-González (1996), Piraino et al. (1999), Bouillon et al. (2004), De Vito (2006), Gravili (2006), Galea (2007), Gravili et al. (2008a), Puce et al. (2009).