Leuckartiara gardinieri Browne, 1916

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 42-43

Leuckartiara gardinieri Browne, 1916

Leuckartiara gardinieri: Browne 1916: 181 , pl. 39, fig. 4; Kramp 1961: 103; 1968: 46, fig. 119; Bouillon 1980: 331, fig. 13.

Description: Eight specimens from five stations. Conical umbrella, taller than broad, with pronounced apical projection; up to 7 mm in height. Exumbrella surface smooth, with four perradial, longitudinal bands extending from tentacular bulbs towards apex. Mesoglea thickened apically, thin laterally. Velum broad. Peripheral canal conspicuous, four broad radial canals present, no centripetal canals. Four perradial marginal tentacles arising from laterally compressed bulbs on umbrella margin, long, hollow, bearing characteristic bands. 12–20 secondary tentaculae present, minute, solid; 3–5 regularly alternating with larger tentacles. Manubrium enlarged, occupying almost entire subumbrella cavity; flask-shaped, with broad base, connected to radial canals by mesenteries. Mouth wide, with much crenulated lips; without gastric peduncle. With ocelli at base of tentacles and tentaculae. Gonads horseshoe shaped, bipartite, on manubrium, interradial, with extensive transverse folds directed perradially, connected by transverse bridge adradially.

Material examined: H5020.

Comments: 14 named species of Leuckartiara are considered valid by Bouillon and Boero (2000 b). Aside from the two species described here, L. annexa Kramp, 1957 has been described from off the east coast of Africa (Kramp 1957) and L. zacae Bigelow, 1940 has been recovered in the Mozambique Channel (Kramp 1965). The former species is identifiable by the absence of an apical projection, the presence of eight large tentacles that each arise from an elongated bulb bearing a abaxial spur, and by the possession of eight secondary tentaculae (and 16 marginal warts). The exumbrella of L. zacae bears a series of longitudinal ribs, and although four large tentacles are usually observed, there are also between 8–12 smaller tentacles and up to 48 marginal warts. Pagès et al. (1992) tabulate the differences between species clearly.

Distribution: Tropical and warm temperate waters of Indian and Pacific oceans. Previously recorded off south-east Africa and Madagascar (Browne 1916), and along the east coast of South Africa ( Millard 1975). Neritic.