Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

OLIVEIRA, OTTO M. P., MIRANDA, THAÍS P., ARAUJO, ENILMA M., AYÓN, PATRICIA, CEDEÑO-POSSO, CRISTINA M., CEPEDA-MERCADO, AMANCAY A., CÓRDOVA, PABLO, CUNHA, AMANDA F., GENZANO, GABRIEL N., HADDAD, MARIA ANGÉLICA, MIANZAN, HERMES W., MIGOTTO, ALVARO E., MIRANDA, LUCÍLIA S., MORANDINI, ANDRÉ C., NAGATA, RENATO M., NASCIMENTO, KARINE B., JÚNIOR, MIODELI NOGUEIRA, PALMA, SERGIO, QUIÑONES, JAVIER, RODRIGUEZ, CAROLINA S., SCARABINO, FABRIZIO, SCHIARITI, AGUSTÍN, STAMPAR, SÉRGIO N., TRONOLONE, VALQUÍRIA B. & MARQUES, ANTONIO C., 2016, Census of Cnidaria (Medusozoa) and Ctenophora from South American marine waters, Zootaxa 4194 (1), pp. 1-256 : 172

Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Synonyms in the area: Physalia sp.—Hartt 1868.

Remarks: Species redescribed by Bardi & Marques (2007).

Distribution in South America: Pacific Ocean, Chile, from 18ºS to 45ºS (Moyano & Valdovinos 1984; Araya et al. 2015), Isla de Pascua (Easter Island) (Leloup 1935; Fagetti 1958); Atlantic Ocean, Brazil to Argentina, from 0º to 40ºS (Mianzan & Girola 1990; Freitas et al. 1995; Pugh 1999; Migotto et al. 2002; Haddad et al. 2002; Bardi 2005; Bardi & Marques 2007; Haddad Jr. et al. 2010; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Araujo 2012).

Habitat: pleustonic species, commonly found in tropical and subtropical waters (Alvariño 1971; Pagès & Gili 1992; Pugh & Gasca 2009; Araujo 2012). In Pacific coast it is most frequent in coastal waters in the northern and central zone during the El Niño events.