Pycnotheca mirabilis

Pycnotheca mirabilis, The feathery hydroid, is a colonial hydroid in the family Kirchenpaueriidae.^[2] Feathery hydroids are often white and grow in crowded colonies resembling upright feathers. The stems may grow to 3 cm in total height. The reproductive bodies are found at the base of the stems and resemble beehives.^[3]

Pycnotheca mirabilis
Illustration from the protologue of P. mirabilis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Hydrozoa
Order:	Leptothecata
Family:	Kirchenpaueriidae
Genus:	Pycnotheca
Species:	P. mirabilis
Binomial name
Pycnotheca mirabilis (Allman, 1883)
Synonyms
Diplocheilus allmani Torrey, 1902 Pycnotheca allmani (Torrey, 1902)[1]

This colonial animal is found off the South African coast from False Bay to KwaZulu-Natal, as well as around the Indo-Pacific rim and Vema Seamount. It lives from the subtidal to 50 m under water.^[3] This species eats microplankton.^[3]