The physical structure of I. hippuris is composed of nodes and inter nodes, essentially "stacked" on top of each other, giving it the nickname sea bamboo. Together, the nodes and inter nodes can create either a skinny or thick structure, and oftentimes look similar to many organism's spine.
I. hippuris has a unique physical structure consisting of interconnected units that are stacked vertically, giving it the moniker sea bamboo. These units can form varying thicknesses and exhibit similarities to the spinal structures found in numerous other organisms.