Proboscidactyla stellata ( Forbes, 1846 )

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 44-45

Proboscidactyla stellata ( Forbes, 1846)

Willsia stellata: Forbes 1846: 268 .

Proboscidactyla stellata: Kramp 1961: 236 ; 1968: 109, fig. 294; Pagès et al. 1992: 37, fig. 41.

Description: Eight specimens from one station. Hemispherical, dome-shaped umbrella, broader than tall; up to 3.3 mm in diameter. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thick. Velum broad. Peripheral canal absent; six narrow radial canals present, with smooth margin, each bifurcating twice (to produce 24 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 at base of, and between, each marginal tentacle. Manubrium hexagonal, short, with six gastric lobes that extend along radial canals proximally. Mouth short, with six crenulated lips; without gastric peduncle. Without statocysts. Without ocelli. Gonads surrounding manubrium, extend over the six gastric lobes.

Material examined: H5026.

Comments: see P. ornata .

Distribution: Widespread in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This is the first record from the west Indian Ocean. Neritic.