Pink+Hearted+Hydroid

__**Common Name:**__ Pink Hearted Hydroid

__**Scientific Name:**__ //Tubularia crocea//

__**Phylum:**__ Cnidaria

__**Class:**__ Hydrozoa

__**Location:**__ This hydroid species is mainly located in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, including New England, and the Chesapeake Bay.

__**Size:**__ Individual hydroids are small, about 400 micrometers in size, and the colonies grow in rounded tufts up to 6' across.

__**Description of Habitat:**__ Pink Hearted Hydroid colonies mainly inhabit rock beds and boat docks. They prefer a habitat consisting of gravel and sand.

__**Living Requirements:**__ This species survives off a diet of zooplankton, phytoplankton, and small detritus. It needs to anchor itself onto rocks of boatdocks in order to be stabilized and to not be washed away.

__**Life Cycle:**__ Reproductive polyps, or gonozooids, bud off from the hydroidand asexually produce medusae. These tine medusae, which are only one sex, mature and spawn- creating a whole new colony of hydroids.

__**Male/Female Differences:**__ Male and female reproductive parts are located in different colonies of hydroids.

__**Facts:**__
 * 1) The strength of the hydroid's tentacles paralyzes its prey, then it draws the food to its mouth.
 * 2) hydroids are the most primitive Cnidarians
 * 3) Contrary to popular belief, most cnidarian's nematocysts are not harmful to humans. Their stinger cannot penetrate human skin sufficiently enough to do any harm.

__**Human Impact:**__ The Pink Hearted Hydroids are considered a nuisance species, especially to boat and dock owners and therefore actions have been taken to reduce this species population.

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