Proboscidactyla ornata ( McCrady, 1859 )

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 44

Proboscidactyla ornata ( McCrady, 1859)

Willsia ornata: McCrady 1859: 149 , pl. 9, figs 9–11.

Proboscidactyla ornata: Kramp 1961: 235 ; 1968: 109, fig. 290.

Description: Two specimens from two stations. Hemispherical, dome-shaped umbrella, slightly taller than broad; up to 3.7 mm in diameter. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thick. Velum broad. Peripheral canal absent; four narrow radial canals present, with smooth margin, each bifurcating twice (to produce 16 terminal radial canals); no centripetal canals. As many marginal tentacles as terminal radial canals, each arising from small swollen bulb on umbrella margin, bulbs without abaxial spur. Tentacles relatively long, hollow. Without secondary tentaculae. Cnidocyst clusters (cnidacthylacy) from exumbrella margin between each marginal tentacle. Manubrium short, with four gastric lobes that extend short distance along radial canals proximally. Mouth with four recurved and crenulated lips; without gastric peduncle. Without statocysts. Without ocelli. Gonads surround manubrium and extend over gastric lobes.

Material examined: H5024, H5025.

Comments: Although the family Proboscidactylidae has traditionally been considered to belong to Limnomedusae , we have followed Bouillon and Boero (2000 b) and included it with Anthomedusae. Of the seven named species considered to be valid by Bouillon and Boero (2000 b), only the two described here are currently known from the region. Species of Proboscidactyla can be differentiated on the number and degree of branching, of radial canals (which is reflected in the number of tentacles, the number of mouth lips and the number of gastric pouches) and the arrangment of cnidacthylacies.

Distribution: World-wide in tropical and warm temperate waters. Previously recorded from East Africa (Kramp 1965) and in the Mozambique Channel (Bouillon 1978 b). Neritic.