Eucheilota medusifera? (Torrey, 1902) comb. nov.

(Figures 1–3)

? Campalecium medusiferum Torrey, 1902: 48, pl. 3, figs. 26–29.

Halecium Torreyi Motz-Kossowska, 1911: 331, figs. 5g, h, m, t.

Halecium Torreyi var. intermedia Motz-Kossowska, 1911: 333, figs. 6g, t.

Haleciella microtheca HadŽi, 1914: 51 .

Campalecium medusiferum: Huvé 1954: 183, pl.7, figs. 23–27, pl.8, fig. 28; Isasi & Saiz 1986: 69; Bouillon et al. 2004: 162, figs. 87C-E.

? Eucheilota cirrata: Brinckmann 1959: 82, figs. 1a–b, 2d–e, 3.

Non Campalecium cirratum: Millard & Bouillon 1975: 7, figs. 2C–E.

Campalecium medusiferum ?: Boero 1981: 188, figs. 5A–D.

? Mitrocomium cirratum: Calder 1991: 25, figs.15a–b, 16a–b. Mitrocomium cirratum: Altuna 1992 /1993: 44, figs. 1A–G. Non Lovenella cirrata: Bouillon et al. 2004: 165, fig. 88I.

The polyp (Figure 1)

This species has been described also after Bay of Biscay material by Altuna (1992/1993) as Mitrocomium cirratum Haeckel, 1879 following Calder (1991). His description is completed here with remarks on the soft parts of the live animals.

Colony stolonal with numerous pedicels arising from a tubular and profusely ramified hydrorhiza 60–80 µm wide. Live hydranths whitish. Fully extended hydranth 1.8–2.0 mm long, tubular, or slightly thicker below the tentacles [70–80 µm (proximally at hydrothecal rim); 100–120 µm (below tentacles)]. Hypostome small and dome-shaped, having a single row of 22–28 amphicoronate tentacles (16–26 x 260–640 µm), with a basal intertentacular web with big sausage-like cnidocysts. Tentacles with 13–21 clusters of cnidocysts, which are not present in the basal portion covered by the membrane. Gonothecae curved (1000–1300 µm), arising from hydrothecal pedicels, with a thin pedicel (60–80 µm), widening gradually, and ending in a more or less truncated summit (186–260 µm); they contain 4–5 medusa buds. Stolonization frequent; stolons arising from hydrorhiza or from the hydrophores carrying 1–2 polyps.