Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current
Author
Buecher, Emmanuelle
Author
Goy, Jacqueline
Author
J, Mark
Author
Gibbons
text
African Invertebrates
2005
2005-12-31
46
27
69
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.7909936
2305-2562
7909936
Euphysora abaxialis
Kramp, 1962
Euphysora abaxialis
: Kramp 1962: 309
, figs 2–4; 1968: 15, fig. 29.
Description: Three small and damaged specimens from three samples. Dome-shaped umbrella with rounded apex, taller than broad,
without apical projection
; up to
1.4 mm
in height. Exumbrella surface smooth, with patch of small papillae at apex. Mesoglea slightly thick. Velum narrow. Peripheral canal and four narrow radial canals present, latter with smooth margin; with neither centripetal
nor apical canals
.
With four perradial marginal tentacle bulbs arising from umbrella margin
;
with only one tentacle
,
arising from enlarged basal bulb
.
Tentacle hollow
,
long
,
unbranched
,
without terminal knob but with cnidocyst clusters swollen
,
distributed in single row abaxially
. Manubrium globular, filling almost entire bell cavity; not extending beyond velum, not connected to radial canals by mesenteries. Mouth simple, circular, without lips; without gastric peduncle. Without ocelli on bulb of marginal tentacles. Without cnidocyst tracks on exumbrella. Gonads entirely encircling the manubrium, smooth.
Material examined: H5031.
Comments: Twelve species are considered valid by Bouillon and Boero (2000
b
). Aside from the three species described here, two others (Kramp 1961) have been recovered in the west Indian Ocean:
E
.
furcata
Kramp, 1948
has been recorded off East Africa (Kramp 1957) and
E
.
normani
(Browne, 1916)
has been found off Chagos (Browne 1916). The former of these species is characterised by having a twice-bifurcated tentacle opposite another fairly long tentacle; the latter species has a high, conical apical projection and three lateral, and one large terminal, cnidocyst clusters on the single long tentacle.
Distribution: Tropical and subtropical waters the Indo-West Pacific. This is the first record from the west Indian Ocean. Neritic.