Euphysora bigelowi Maas, 1905

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 46-47

Euphysora bigelowi Maas, 1905

Steenstrupia bigelowi: Mayer 1910: 36 , fig. 9.

Euphysora bigelowi: Maas 1905: 7 , pl. 1, figs 1–3; Kramp 1961: 39; 1968: 15, fig. 26.

Description: Single immature specimen. Bell-shaped umbrella, taller than broad, with pointed apical projection; 2 mm in height. Exumbrella surface smooth, with patch of small papillae at apex. Mesoglea thin. Velum relatively broad. 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; conical, conspicuous. With one long tentacle, hollow, unbranched, bearing terminal knob and three swollen cnidocyst clusters in single row along adaxial surface. With three short tentacles, pointed and filiform, hollow, without conspicuous cnidocyst clusters. 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. When mature, smooth gonads entirely encircling manubrium.

Material examined: H5033.

Comments: see E. abaxialis .

Distribution: Widespread in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian-West Pacific. Previously recorded from Mauritius (Browne 1916) and the Mozambique Channel (Kramp 1965). Neritic.