The First Record of a Bivalve-inhabiting Hydrozoan from USA

Abstract

A bivalve-inhabiting hydrozoan associated with an American oyster Crassostrea virginica (GMELIN, 1791) from the Indian River Estuary, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA was described based on some preserved specimens of polyp and laboratory-reared immature medusa under the name of Eutima sp. The present hydrozoan is found for the first time from USA. It is confirmed by the discovery of the present species that all the medusae of the bivalve-inhabiting hydrozoans from the Atlantic coasts lack cirri in every developmental stage.