Bougainvilliidae

Bougainvilliidae is a family of marine hydroids in the class Hydrozoa. Members of the family are found worldwide. There are sixteen accepted genera and about ninety-three species.

Description

Hydroids in this family can be solitary or colonial. When colonial, the hydranths or hydroid polyps are either linked by stolons or are branched. The hydranths have one or more whorls of fine tentacles. The gonophores are free-living medusae or are fixed sporosacs. The medusae are bell-shaped with a circular mouth and branched oral tentacles inserted above the rim of the mouth, ending in clusters of nematocysts.

Genera

Bimeria Wright, 1859Bougainvillia Lesson, 1830Chiarella Maas, 1897Dicoryne Allman, 1859Garveia Wright, 1859Koellikerina Kramp, 1939Millardiana Wedler & Larson, 1986 Nemopsis Agassiz, 1849Nubiella Bouillon, 1980Pachycordyle Weismann, 1883Parawrightia Warren, 1907Rhizorhagium M. Sars, 1874Silhouetta Millard & Bouillon, 1973Thamnostoma Haeckel, 1879Velkovrhia Matjasic & Sket, 1971