Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935

Miranda, Lucília S., Branch, George M., Collins, Allen G., Hirano, Yayoi M., Marques, Antonio C. & Griffiths, Charles L., 2017, Stalked jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Staurozoa) of South Africa, with the description of Calvadosia lewisi sp. nov., Zootaxa 4227 (3), pp. 369-389 : 381-384

Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935

( Figs 9 , 10 )

Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935: 1 –24, figures 1–12; Kramp 1961: 300; Grohmann et al. 1999: 386, 387; Dawson 2004: 252, figure 1; Collins & Daly 2005: 222, 226, figures 5–7; Cairns et al. 2009: 70; Zagal et al. 2011: 651 –666, figures 2, 4, 8; Miranda et al. 2016b: 2, 6, 12–15, 17, 19, 25, 26, 36, figures 1, 3–5, 7, 12, 13.

Material examined. MZUSP 3418 , 8 specimens, Sea Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-33.9130, 18.3874), 22 December 2014, intertidal pools, on Gigartina polycarpa , formaldehyde solution 5%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . MZUSP 3419, 1 specimen, Kalk Bay , Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 28 March 2013, intertidal pools, on Caulerpa filiformis , formaldehyde solution 5%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . MZUSP 2733, 1 specimen, Kalk Bay , Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 25 April 2013, intertidal pools, on Caulerpa filiformis , ethanol 90%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . MZUSP 2734, 1 specimen, Kalk Bay , Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 25 April 2013, intertidal pools, on Caulerpa filiformis , ethanol 90%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . Iziko South African Museum MB-A083795, 1 specimen, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 28 March 2013, intertidal pools, on Caulerpa filiformis , formaldehyde solution 5%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . Iziko South African Museum MB-A083796, 1 specimen, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 25 April 2013, intertidal, on Caulerpa filiformis , ethanol 80%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . Iziko South African Museum MB-A083797 (CP 718A), 1 specimen, Kalk Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.1266, 18.4498), 9 April 1947, intertidal, on Caulerpa filiformis , ethanol 80%, col. University of Cape Town Ecological Survey, det. C. Griffiths . Iziko South African Museum MB-A084063, 5 specimens, Camps Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-33.9566, 18.3755), 12 January 2016, intertidal, on various large algae in rock pools, ethanol 80%, col. & det. C. Griffiths . Iziko South African Museum H 5108, 5 specimens, Castle Rocks, False Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (-34.2385, 18.4766), 19 January 2003, depth 1 m, ethanol 80%, col. Y. Hirano, det. C. Griffiths .

Not kept, 3 specimens, Scarborough , Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (–34.2017, 18.3702), 19 August 2013, from rockpools, on Sargassum longifolium , observed by G. Jones. Not kept, several specimens, Green Point, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (–33.8990, 18.4078), 17 March 2014, on Brassicophycus brassicaeformis , observed by C. Griffiths. Not kept , 4 specimens, Moullie Point , Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (– 33.8996, 18.4046), 22 December 2014, intertidal, on Champia , observed by C. Griffiths. Not kept ; 1 specimen, Hermanus , Overberg, Western Cape, South Africa (–34.4210, 19.2437), March 1991, on Codium , observed by C. Griffiths. Not kept , 5 specimens; Dalebrook , Cape Town , Western Cape , South Africa (–34.1196, 18.4401), 2 April 1966, shallow subtidal, on Caulerpa filiformis , observed by G. Branch. USNM 1233748, 5 specimens, Gerloff Bay, Victoria, South Australia, Australia, 13 January 1998, intertidal, formaldehyde solution 5%, col. & det. Y. Hirano

Information on type material. The holotype is probably A194, from Oudekraal, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (type locality). As mentioned for C. capensis , the material is listed in the “University of Cape Town Ecological Survey” but could not be located in the Iziko South African Museum’s collection.

Description. (complemented with Carlgren 1935). Calyx higher than wide, cylindrical ( Fig. 9 ). Peduncle with four perradial chambers and four interradial longitudinal muscles. Gastrovascular cavity divided by claustrum. Manubrium with four perradial lips ( Fig. 10 D, E). Numerous gastric filaments in gastrovascular cavity. Gonads extending from pyloric region to perradial margin of calyx, embedded in gastrovascular cavity ( Figs 9 B, C; 10E). Gonadal vesicles organized in rows ( Fig. 9 B, C). Eight short (rudimentary) adradial arms ( Figs 9 , 10 ). Each arm with a cluster of about 25 secondary hollow, knobbed tentacles ( Figs 9 , 10 ). Individual, pad-like adhesive structures in outermost secondary tentacles ( Fig. 10 A–C). Perradial and interradial anchors between arms, with remnant of primary tentacles ( Fig. 10 A–C). Coronal muscle entire, internal to anchors. White spots of nematocysts associated with perradial gonads ( Fig. 10 D, E). General color of body very variable: orange, green, yellow, white ( Fig. 9 ). Total body length about 10.0 to 15.0 mm.

Distribution and habitat. The species was recorded for the first time at Oudekraal, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa ( Carlgren 1935) ( Fig. 5 B, E). Zagal et al. (2011) extended the occurrence of D. africana to Victoria and Tasmania, in Australia, and Otago, in New Zealand ( Fig. 5 B), but molecular data indicated that Depastromorpha in Australia might be a distinct species (see Depastromorpha sp. AUS in Miranda et al. 2016b and remarks below). In this study we provide several new records for the species in the Western Cape, South Africa: Camps Bay, Cape Town; Castle Rocks, False Bay, Cape Town; Dalebrook, Cape Town; Green Point, Cape Town; Hermanus, Overberg; Kalk Bay, Cape Town; Moullie Point, Cape Town; Scarborough, Cape Town; Sea Point, Cape Town ( Fig. 5 B, E). Depastromorpha africana is generally found from the intertidal to shallow subtidal depths, up to 14 m deep ( Zagal et al. 2011), attached to various species of algae ( Zagal et al. 2011; this study).

Remarks. Depastromorpha was erected by Carlgren (1935) and comprises the single species, D. africana , whose original description was based on a single specimen from Oudekraal, Cape Town, South Africa. There are unpublished observations of the species in Australia and New Zealand ( Grohmann et al. 1999), subsequently confirmed in Victoria and Tasmania (Australia), and Otago (New Zealand) ( Zagal et al. 2011; specimens deposited in the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, TMAG K3857–K3862). According to Zagal et al. (2011), individuals from Australia and New Zealand matched Carlgren’s (1935) description, although they have slightly smaller dimensions. However, molecular markers from D. africana of South Australia differ substantially from those from South African specimens, indicating the existence of a second species of the genus ( Miranda et al. 2016b). If confirmed, D. africana would be endemic to South Africa. Detailed morphological and molecular studies, comparing the populations from South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand are necessary to assess this hypothesis and the possible existence of cryptic species (see examples in Knowlton 2000; Dawson & Jacobs 2001). Whatever the outcome, the South African species will retain its name by priority.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Geographic distribution of South African stauromedusae. A: Global distribution of Calvadosia capensis (South Africa and Brazil); B: Global distribution of Depastromorpha africana (South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand) *; C: Local distribution of C. lewisi sp. nov. (endemic from South Africa); D: Local distribution of C. capensis; E: Local distribution of D. africana; F: Local distribution of L. stephensoni (endemic from South Africa). Based on Carlgren (1933, 1935, 1938); Zagal et al. (2011); Miranda et al. (2012 b); and new records provided in this study. * Records of D. africana outside South Africa need confirmation of their identity (see text and Miranda et al. 2016 b).

FIGURE 9. Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935, living specimens. A – C: Exumbrellar views of specimens attached to Bicurcariopsis capensis (A, B) and to Caulerpa filiformis (C). Abbreviations: am, arms; an, anchors; cl, calyx; gd, gonad; isp, interradial septum; pd, pedal disk; pe, peduncle; tc, secondary tentacles. Photo credit: Charles Griffiths (A – C).

FIGURE 10. Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935, preserved specimens (MZUSP 3418, A, B, D, E; MZUSP 3419, C). A: Margin of exumbrella, with arms and anchors; B: Detail of anchors; C: Individual pad-like adhesive structures in the outermost secondary tentacles; D: White spots of nematocysts on subumbrella; E: Perradial gonads associated with white spots of nematocysts on subumbrella. Abbreviations: am, arms; an, anchors; gd, gonad; IR, interradial region; mn, manubrium; pa, padlike adhesive structure; PR, perradial region; tc, secondary tentacles; ws, white spots of nematocysts.