Occurrence and distribution of hydroids of Galveston Bay, Texas, area.

Examination of approximately 210 collections of hydroids from the Galveston Bay area resulted in identification of 29 species representing 19 genera in 10 families. Three of these species (Stylactus n. sp., Lovenella n. sp., and Campalecium n. sp.) were provisionally described as new. Nine species constituted new records for Texas waters, one species was new for the Gulf of Mexico, and one species was new for the Atlantic coast. Species collected are discussed as belonging to one or more of three hydroid faunas. A brief zoogeographical discussion is presented. It is concluded that the hydroid fauna of the area has affinities with both the southern U.S. Atlantic coast and the Caribbean.