BIOTIC Species Information for Nemertesia ramosa
Researched byAngus Jackson Data supplied byMarLIN
Refereed byDr Rob Hughes
General Biology
Growth formPinnate
Feeding methodPassive suspension feeder
Mobility/MovementPermanent attachment
Environmental positionEpifaunal
Epibenthic
Typical food typesSuspended particulates HabitAttached
BioturbatorNot relevant FlexibilityHigh (>45 degrees)
FragilityFragile SizeMedium(11-20 cm)
HeightUp to 15 cm Growth Rate2.6 - 4.6 cm/month
Adult dispersal potentialNone DependencyIndependent
SociabilityColonial
Toxic/Poisonous?No
General Biology Additional InformationVery little information is directly available on Nemertesia ramosa. Completion of most of the fields has been done through extrapolation from the very similar species Nemertesia antennina.

The main stems of Nemertesia ramosa branch occasionally whereas those of Nemertesia antennina do not. The size at maturity for Nemertesia ramosa (a smaller species) may be less than that for Nemertesia antennina. Growth rates for Nemertesia ramosa may also be lower than those recorded for Nemertesia antennina. Growth rates are highest in the summer and lowest in the winter. An individual planula larva gives rise to a colony (sometimes referred to as an individual). These colonies (individuals) are gregarious. The feeding polyps of this species are too large to be withdrawn into the protective theca. Nemertesia ramosa is fed on by a variety of sea slugs including Doto fragilis, Doto cuspidata, Lomanotus genei, and by the sea spider Endeis spinosa.

Epizoites
Ansín Agís et al (2001) list the following species as epibionts on Nemertesia ramosa: Plumularia setacea, Clytia gracilis, Clytia hemisphaerica, Scalpellum scalpellum, Antennella secundaria, Aglaopheria tubulifera, Plumularia setacea, Obelia bidentata, Camapnularia hincksii, Zygophylax biarmata, Filellum serratum and Modeeria rotunda.
Biology References Hayward & Ryland, 1995b, Hughes, 1977, Gili & Hughes, 1995, Hughes, 1978, Gili & Hughes, 1995, Ansín Agís et al., 2001,
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