Pegantha martagon Haeckel, 1879

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 33-34

Pegantha martagon Haeckel, 1879

Pegantha martagon: Haeckel 1879: 332 ; Kramp 1961: 274; 1968: 127, fig. 342.

Description: Two immature specimens from two stations. Hemispherical umbrella, slightly broader than tall; up to 6.3 mm in diameter. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thickened centrally, thinning to lappets. Velum broad. Up to eight equally-well developed peronia, shallow; eight marginal lappets, deep, square. With eight tentacles (though typically with 10–18 when adult) arising from within mesoglea, at periphery of manubrium, solid and characteristically banded.Without secondary tentacles on umbrella margin. Mouth simple, circular. Manubrium without gastric pouches. Peripheral canal present, lateral portion broad at base and tapering outwards. 4–6 statocysts per marginal lappet; otoporpae present, narrow, slightly longer than width of peripheral canal. When mature, typically forming simple, sac-like diverticula of margin of oral wall on manubrium.

Material examined: H4989.

Comments: see P. rubiginosa .

Distribution: Cosmopolitan. Previously caught along the south-east coast of Africa (Kramp 1957 a). Mainly epipelagic.