Arachnopusia inchoata Hayward & Thorpe, 1988

Species details

Species distribution

5m to deep water, on hard substrates. It is widely distributed in the Southern Ocean though not found in the Weddell Sea.

Some underwater walls and overhangs are dominated by the large foliaceous colonies of this species (e.g. at Signy Island). As many as 40 epifaunal species have been found living in a single A. inchoata colony. It is a good competitor for space against other bryozoans and encrusting animals, even sponges. It is a very unusual suspension feeder as it feeds throughout the entire year. It is eaten by the nudibranch mollusc Pseudotritonia gracilidens (which is camouflaged when against it) as well as by various pycnogonans.