Nausithoe maculata Jarms, 1990

Molinari, Clarissa Garbi, Maronna, Maximiliano Manuel & Morandini, Andre Carrara, 2020, New record of Nausithoe werneri (Scyphozoa, Coronatae, Nausithoidae) from the Brazilian coast and a new synonymy for Nausithoe maculata, ZooKeys 984, pp. 1-21 : 1

Nausithoe maculata Jarms, 1990 Fig. 6

Nausithoe maculata Jarms 1990: 21-24, figs 15-17, pl. V. Type locality: Puerto Rico. Holotype: ZMH C11534.

Nausithoe aurea Silveira and Morandini 1997: 236-239, figs 1-7, pls I, II. Type locality: Ilhabela (23°51'S, 45°25'W), Brazil. Holotype: MNRJ 2899. (syn. nov.)

Metagenetic species.

Solitary polyp with typical periderm tube, dark to light brown, conical, with transverse rings on the surface with longitudinal striations (3-5 rings every 0.4 mm at 2 mm above base). Polyps 3.79-18.64 mm long. Basal disk 0.17-0.6 mm in diameter. Diameter of aperture 0.39-1.58 mm. Diameter just above the basal disc 0.08-0.2 mm. Diameter at 2-mm height 0.09-0.16 mm, and at 5-mm height 0.14-0.21 mm. Three to 8 whorls of 16 internal smooth cusps: 4 large (perradius), 4 intermediate (interradius), and 8 small (adradius). Polydisc strobilation, with more than 100 ephyrae at a time. Medusa translucent, with yellow pigment spot in center of each lappet (Fig. 6A, B ). Umbrella flattened, with 16 slightly elongated lappets with rounded margins and 8 rhopalia with statocyst and red ocelli. Live specimens measuring up to: 3.9 mm total diameter; 2.7 mm between opposite rhopalia; 1.5 mm coronal-groove diameter; gastric cirri approximately 0.5 mm in length; and tentacle length up to 1.5 mm. Stomach with 4 gastric septa, each with 3-7 gastric filaments.

Figures

Figure 6. Aboral view of Nausithoe maculata medusae from Cuba's polyp culture. A four-month-old medusa with mature male gonads (g), long tentacles (t), and malformations in the lappets and central disc. B three-month-old medusa with mature female gonads (g), showing the rhopalium (r), coronal groove (cg), marginal lappets (ml) with pigment spot (ps), gastric cirri (gc), and tentacles (t).