Euphysilla pyramidata Kramp, 1955

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 48

Euphysilla pyramidata Kramp, 1955

Euphysilla pyramidata: Kramp 1955: 245 , pl. 1, fig.1, pl. 2, fig. 3; 1961: 39; 1968: 17, fig. 33.

Description: Single immature specimen. Bell-shaped umbrella, slightly taller than broad, without apical projection; 2.2 mm in height. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thick. Velum narrow. Peripheral canal and four narrow radial canals present, latter with smooth margin; without centripetal canals.With four perradial marginal tentacles arising from bulbs on umbrella margin. Tentacles short, stout, hollow, unbranched, bearing terminal knob and swollen cnidocyst clusters in single row along adaxial surface. Manubrium pyramidal, with broad quadrangular base, not extending beyond velum, not connected to radial canals by mesenteries. Mouth simple, circular, without lips; without gastric peduncle. Without ocelli on bulb of marginal tentacles.Without cnidocyst tracks on exumbrella. When mature, smooth gonads entirely encircling manubrium.

Material examined: H5040.

Comments: Of the two species considered to be valid by Bouillon & Boero (2000 b), only one is recognised from the Indian Ocean. The other species, E. peterseni Allwein, 1967 was described off the Atlantic coast of North America.

Distribution: Scattered records from West Africa and from around the Seychelles (Bouillon 1978 b) and in the Mozambique Channel (Kramp 1955). Neritic.