Phialella falklandica Browne, 1902

Galea, Horia R., 2007, Hydroids and hydromedusae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the fjords region of southern Chile, Zootaxa 1597 (1), pp. 1-116 : 39

Phialella falklandica Browne, 1902

(fig. 9A, pl. 2B)

Phialella falklandica Browne, 1902: 282 ; Kramp, 1959: 152, fig. 201; 1961: 179; 1968: 84, fig. 235; Vervoort & Watson, 2003: 27.

Eucope falklandica: Mayer, 1910: 237 .

Material examined. Plankton —off the Huinay Scientific Field Station, 02.xi.2006, 30–0 m, three mature medusae ( MHNG INVE 53568).

Type locality. Falkland Islands .

Description. Umbrella hemispherical, ca 4 mm high and 6 mm wide, with relatively thick mesoglea. With 4 straight radial canals and ring canal narrow. Margin with ca 34 tentacles borne on large bulbs. Due to the method of preservation of the specimens (formalin), the presence of statocysts could not be checked. Both ocelli and cirri absent. Manubrium short, quadrangular, mouth with four folded lips. Gonads along greater part of radial canals, not reaching bell margin or manubrium; elongated, hanging down in wavy folds. Color of manubrium and tentacle bulbs reddish brown, gonads yellowish.

Remarks. The present specimens have probably not reached their maximum size. Fully grown, mature medusae are up to 17 mm wide, have about 60 marginal tentacles and statocysts on cushion-like bulbs containing two or more statoliths ( Kramp 1968).

The hydroid stage of this species is still unknown (see discussion under P. cf. quadrata ).

World distribution. Falkland Islands, southern coast of South America, Auckland and Campbell Islands ( Kramp 1959), New Zealand ( Kramp 1968, Vervoort & Waton 2003).

Records from Chile. The present material originates from fjord Comau.