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Taxonomy

  • Colonies are roughly fan-shaped and often connected by mucous strings
  • The outer wall is transparent, gelatinous
  • The lophophore is horseshoe-shaped
  • The lemon-shaped statoblasts float after exposure to air

(Wood and Okamura, 2005)

Diagnostic description

Fan-shaped, gelatinous colonies. The lemon-shaped statoblasts are unmistakable.

Lookalikes

L. crystallinus colonies lacking statoblasts can be confused with young colonies of Cristatella mucedo or Lophopodella carteri.

Due to its gelatinous nature, large colonies could be confused with mollusc egg masses, but lophophores are evident upon submersion in water.

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