The epibiotic hydroid (Lovenella gracilis) is a benthic species within the Cnidaria phylum which is distributed throughout the Western Atlantic Ocean.

This structure also contains ten to twelve tentacles equipped with nematocysts that can be used in self-defense or to capture their prey.

[3] Since then it has been identified throughout the east coast of the United States as far north as Massachusetts and as far inland as Mississippi,[6] with some being spotted in South America.

[4] Beyond geographical distribution, L. gracilis has been observed to only live in specific water conditions optimized for their survival.

[7] In the rocky intertidal of North Carolina, L. gracilis has shown to have a symbiotic relationship with an infernal clam(Donax variables).