Gymnangium superbe (Bale, 1882)

Aglaophenia superba Bale, 1882: 31, pl. 13, fig. 4.

Halicornaria superba .— Bale, 1884: 175, pl. 12, fig. 1, pl. 16, fig. 4.¯ Bartlett, 1907: 43.— Bale, 1913: 145.— Bale, 1915: 324.— Briggs, 1915: 312.— Bedot, 1921: 348.— Hodgson, 1950: 53, fig. 85.

Gymnangium superbum .— Stechow, 1923: 237.— Blackburn, 1942: 109.— Watson, 1982: 112, fig. 4.1, 12i, pl. 12.5. — Watson, 1994: 67.— Vervoort & Watson, 2003: 286.

Gymnagium superbe .—Watson, 2003: 254.— Watson, 2005: 577, fig. 31 A–D.

Material examined. Preserved material (no microslides). PIRSA Stns B1, B12, IMP4.

Comment. This well known reef-dwelling hydroid is distinguished by its long greenish-brown feathery stems, often yellow at growing tips. It exudes mucus when removed from water (Watson, pers, obs.). Distribution. Common on southern Australian coastal reefs.