On the Hydroid of Laodicea undulata (Forbes and Goodsir)

Abstract

In 1866 Hincks described the hydroid Cuspidella humilis: later, in his History of the British Hydroid Zoophytes (1868, p. 210), he added two further species to the genus, C. grandis and C. costata. At that time the reproduction of Cuspidella was not known.Metschnikoff (1886, p. 83 and Taf. V, Fig. 1) described the development of the eggs of Laodicea cruciata and reared them to the hydroid stage. These had sessile hydranths and elongated polyps with ten slender tentacles, long and short alternating. Metschnikoff remarked on their similarity to Cuspidella.