Solmaris lenticula Haeckel, 1879

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 34-35

Solmaris lenticula Haeckel, 1879

Solmaris lenticula: Haeckel 1879: 357 ; Kramp 1961: 278; 1968: 128.

Description: Single specimen. Umbrella as flattened lens, broader than tall, 2 mm in diameter. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thickened centrally, thinning to lappets. Velum broad. With 16 equally-well developed peronia, shallow; 16 marginal lappets, deep, semi-circular. 16 tentacles arising from within mesoglea, at periphery of manubrium, long, solid and characteristically banded. Without secondary tentacles on umbrella margin. Mouth simple, circular. Manubrium without gastric pouches. Peripheral canal absent. Three statocysts per marginal lappet; otoporpae absent. Gonads on manubrial wall, simple, annular.

Material examined: H4991.

Comments: Of the seven valid species of Solmaris considered by Bouillon and Boero (2000 b), only S. corona (Keferstein and Ehlers, 1861) has previously been reported along the east coast of South Africa (Kramp 1957), though S. rhodaloma (Brandt, 1838) has been collected off the Seychelles (Bouillon 1978 b). S. corona species can be distinguished from S. lenticula by its deep quadrangular lappets, which each bear two statocysts mounted on a large, bristle-bearing cushion, and by the greater number (36) of tentacles. Other features that can be used to separate species of Solmaris include the shape of the umbrella and the thickness of the mesoglea. S. rhodoloma is identifiable by the number of tentacles and (16–32), and by the number of statocysts per marginal lappet (1–2).

Distribution: Indian Ocean. This is the first record from the west Indian Ocean, though it has been recorded off the coast of India (Kramp 1965). Mainly epipelagic.

Subclass Trachymedusae Haeckel, 1879

Family Geryoniidae Eschscholtz, 1829

Geronyia proboscidalis ( Forskål, 1775)

Medusa proboscidalis: Forskål 1775: 108 , pl. 36, fig. 1.

Geronyia hexaphylla: Péron & Lesueur 1810: 329 .

Geronyia proboscidalis: Eschscholtz 1829: 88 ; Kramp 1961: 237; 1968: 122, fig. 332.

Description: Four specimens from four stations. Hemispherical umbrella, broader than tall, up to 42 mm in diameter. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thickish. Velum broad. Peripheral canal and six radial canals present; up to seven centripetal canals between radial canals. With six tentacles, each arising from umbrella margin opposite radial canal (perradial), long, hollow and characteristically banded. With six secondary tentacles on umbrella margin, short and solid. Mouth with six simple lips; on long (greater than depth of umbrella) conical gastric peduncle. Up to 12 statocysts present. Gonads broad and flat, heart-shaped, situated along radial canals.

Material examined: H4992.

Comments: This is the only species in this genus.

Distribution: World-wide in tropical and subtropical waters. Previously collected from the Chagos Archipelago (Browne 1916) and off the east coast of Africa (Kramp 1957). Mainly epipelagic.