Can be as large as 10 cm long and is characterised by a hairy outer covering, it grows close together so can form dense hairy mats.

Low tide on rocks and under ledges.

A filter feeder, filtering particles out of the water.

This is a broadcast spawner, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column. Fossils of this genus have been found that were 30 million years old.

Photo Credit: Rod Morris. Photos available from www.rodmorris.co.nz