Todaro, 1902
Solitary zooids
Body muscles interrupted dorsally and ventrally (Helicosalpa virgula). One or two dorsal longitudinal muscles linking MI to MVI or MI to MVII. Two ventral longitudinal muscles extending from MI to MV or from the intermediate muscle to MVII. Light organs forming either a continuous lateral strip extending from MI to MVI, or interrupted strips between the intermediate muscle and MVI. Dorsal tubercle highly convoluted.
Aggregate zooids
Arranged in chains (not in whorls) (Helicosalpa virgula 1). Test firm with a posteriorly pointed protrusion directed either to the left (in dextral individuals) or to the right (in sinistral individuals). Musculature asymmetrical (dextral and sinistral individuals are like mirror images). Body muscles interrupted ventrally, none of them continuing into the attachment organ. Light organs absent. Dorsal tubercle from moderately to highly convoluted. Peduncle absent, instead there is a short, oval disk, with two independent stretches of muscles.
Three species, only one of which has been recorded from the South Atlantic.
Helicosalpa virgula (Vogt, 1854)