Euphysora abaxialis Kramp, 1962

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 45-46

Euphysora abaxialis Kramp, 1962

Euphysora abaxialis: Kramp 1962: 309 , figs 2–4; 1968: 15, fig. 29.

Description: Three small and damaged specimens from three samples. Dome-shaped umbrella with rounded apex, taller than broad, without apical projection; up to 1.4 mm in height. Exumbrella surface smooth, with patch of small papillae at apex. Mesoglea slightly thick. Velum narrow. Peripheral canal and four narrow radial canals present, latter with smooth margin; with neither centripetal nor apical canals. With four perradial marginal tentacle bulbs arising from umbrella margin; with only one tentacle, arising from enlarged basal bulb. Tentacle hollow, long, unbranched, without terminal knob but with cnidocyst clusters swollen, distributed in single row abaxially. Manubrium globular, filling almost entire bell cavity; 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. Gonads entirely encircling the manubrium, smooth.

Material examined: H5031.

Comments: Twelve species are considered valid by Bouillon and Boero (2000 b). Aside from the three species described here, two others (Kramp 1961) have been recovered in the west Indian Ocean: E. furcata Kramp, 1948 has been recorded off East Africa (Kramp 1957) and E. normani (Browne, 1916) has been found off Chagos (Browne 1916). The former of these species is characterised by having a twice-bifurcated tentacle opposite another fairly long tentacle; the latter species has a high, conical apical projection and three lateral, and one large terminal, cnidocyst clusters on the single long tentacle.

Distribution: Tropical and subtropical waters the Indo-West Pacific. This is the first record from the west Indian Ocean. Neritic.