Some anthoathecate hydroids and limnopolyps (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from the Hawaiian archipelago 2590
Author
Calder, Dale R.
text
Zootaxa
2010
2010-08-31
2590
1
1
91
https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.2590.1.1
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.2590.1.1
11755334
Genus
Velella
Lamarck, 1801
Velella
Lamarck, 1801: 355
.
Type
species.
Medusa
velella
Linnaeus, 1758
[
Velella velella
], by absolute tautonymy.
Diagnosis.
Porpitid hydroids with mantle and internal float oval in shape; upper surface with erect, triangular sail oriented diagonally to long axis of float. Dactylozooids with bands and patches of nematocysts; tentacles lacking.
Porpitid medusae with four radial canals; tentacle bulbs four, one opposite pair lacking tentacles and the other pair with 1–2 capitate tentacles each; algal symbionts usually present, aggregated near radial canals and ring canal.
Remarks.
Many nominal species of this genus have been described from tropical and temperate oceans worldwide. At present, however, all are believed referable to one species,
Velella velella
(
Linnaeus, 1758
)
(
Calder 1988
;
Bouillon
et al.
2006
;
Schuchert 2010
).