plastisella

Plastisella is a genus of small colonial marine invertebrates described from shallow coastal habitats. Members form delicate, translucent colonies that appear as branching lattices or sheet-like networks attached to submerged substrates. The individual units of the colony are small polyps with tentacles, and the overall structure is produced by successive budding.

Taxonomy within Plastisella has been variable, and its precise placement is the subject of ongoing study. In hydrozoan classifications it has been associated with groups within the broader class Hydrozoa, but some taxonomic authorities note uncertainty due to limited morphological and molecular data. As a result, Plastisella is sometimes treated as incertae sedis within Hydrozoa pending further study.

Distribution and habitat extend across temperate and tropical seas, with reported occurrences on rocky shores, kelp beds, coral rubble, and, in some regions, artificial substrates. Colonies are typically found in sheltered microhabitats at shallow depths, often in areas with moderate current that helps deliver food items to the feeding polyps.

Biology and ecology: Plastisella colonies feed by capturing small plankton and detrital particles with their tentacles and cnidocytes. Reproduction occurs both asexually, by budding to expand colonies, and sexually, through the production of free-swimming medusae that release planula larvae to form new colonies.

Species described within the genus include Plastisella marina, Plastisella borealis, and Plastisella tropica. Etymology stems from plastis, meaning molded or formed, combined with a diminutive suffix.