Solmaris flavofinis, Peter, 2021

Schuchert, Peter & Collins, Richard, 2021, Hydromedusae observed during night dives in the Gulf Stream, Revue suisse de Zoologie 128 (2), pp. 237-356 : 328

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.35929/RSZ.0049

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5705900

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/D0118A7C-5B50-0048-FEFD-FAD7FB187EA5

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Solmaris flavofinis
status

sp. nov.

Solmaris flavofinis View in CoL View at ENA n. spec.

Fig. 56 View Fig A-H

Holotype: BFLA4068 , 10-APR-2019; size 9 mm, mature female, 9 tentacles; part preserved in formalin and deposited as UF-013779 (damaged), small part preserved in alcohol for DNA extraction (MHNG- INVE-0137376); 16S sequence MW528665 View Materials .

Paratype: BFLA4273 ; 04-DEC-2019; size 9 mm, 8 tentacles; preserved in formalin and deposited as UF-013841 .

Other material: BFLA4243 ; 1 specimen; 11-NOV- 2019; size 9 mm, 11 tentacles; preserved in alcohol for DNA extraction; 16S sequence identical to MW528665 View Materials . BFLA4250 ; 1 specimen; 23-NOV-2019; size 8 mm, 10 tentacles, mature female; preserved in alcohol for DNA extraction; 16S sequence MW528693 View Materials .

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the Latin words flavus (yellow) and finis (end), an allusion to the yellow tentacle tips.

Description: Bell diameter 8-9 mm, height ~ 4-5 mm, lower part shaped somewhat conical, upper part less steep, with small, rounded apical projection ( Fig. 56C View Fig ); lower third of bell composed of 8 to 11 rectangular lappets ( Fig. 56 View Fig A-F), 1-2 statocysts per lappet ( Fig. 56E View Fig ). Stomach large, 2/3 of bell diameter, flat, without gastric pockets, no peripheral canals. Gonad tissue developing on periphery of oral side of stomach ( Fig. 56A, B, F View Fig ), only females unambiguously identified, forming up to 8 very large oocytes ( Fig. 56B View Fig ), often but not always in perradial position, size estimate ~0.7 mm, flattened lentil-shaped, well visible germinal vesicle (nucleus). 8 to 11 thin tentacles, issuing in about 1/3 of bell height, held upward ( Fig. 56C View Fig ) or downward ( Fig. 56A View Fig ), rather stiff, but able to move and even to coil ( Fig. 56F View Fig ), evenly tapering to tip, length about two bell diameters, root short ( Fig. 56G View Fig ). Below tentacles no exumbrellar furrows, but thin peronia delimiting the lappets. Statocysts bipartite, with inverted cone as base and spherical end with statocysts ( Fig. 56H View Fig ). Colour: colourless except for yellow tentacle tips ( Fig. 56A, D View Fig ).

16S Data: See Table 1 View Table 1. 16 and Fig. 48 View Fig . The p-distance to S. corona was very high (32%).

Remarks: The combination of the traits tentacle number (9-11), size (8-9 mm), and shape of the marginal lobes did not fit any of the known and accepted Solmaris species listed in Bouillon et al. (1991). Both the 16S and the morphological traits varied only in a relatively narrow range and we are convinced that these medusae represent a distinct species. The species resembling S. flavifinis most closely is the Mediterranean Solmaris flavescens ( Kölliker, 1853) (for a good description see Mayer, 1910: 434, figs 284-286). Solmaris flavescens differs in being considerably larger (diameter 15-23 mm) and has more tentacles (usually 13-15, exceptionally 12 or 17). While the yellow tentacle tips of S. flavifinis permitted distinguishing it immediately from the co-occurring S. corona (see above), this is not a diagnostic trait because it is shared with S. flavescens ( Kölliker, 1853: 322; Gegenbaur, 1857: 264; Metchnikoff, 1886: 19[257]). Another trait shared with S. flavescens is the large size of the oocytes, but several other Narcomedusae also have such large eggs (see table 4 in Bouillon, 1987).

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Cnidaria

Class

Hydrozoa

Order

Narcomedusae

Family

Solmarisidae

Genus

Solmaris

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