Lucernariopsis capensis Carlgren 1938
- Dataset
- Lucernariopsis capensis Carlgren, 1938 (Cnidaria, Staurozoa) in Brazil: first record outside its type locality in South Africa
- Rank
- SPECIES
Classification
- kingdom
- Animalia
- phylum
- Cnidaria
- class
- Staurozoa
- order
- Stauromedusae
- family
- Kishinouyeidae
- genus
- Lucernariopsis
- species
- Lucernariopsis capensis
description
Description. Calyx (umbrella) pyramidal, narrowing aborally, height 3.34 mm (excluding arms and tentacular clusters), maximum width 3.25 mm; calyx separated from stalk (Fig. 1 A − C). Eight adradial arms, length 0.28 mm, width 0.39 mm (excluding tentacular clusters) (Fig. 1 A, B, E). Arms paired, maximum distance between arms (between base of tentacular cluster) 1.09 mm, minimum distance 0.76 mm. Distal region of each arm with 11 − 15 capitate tentacles. Tentacles morphologically similar, varied in length (Fig. 1 E); each tentacle with hollow stem and distal globular end covered with nematocysts. Anchors lacking, except one small globular knob between two of the arms, which is probably a vestigial primary tentacle (Fig. 1 E). Aboral stalk morphologically distinct from calyx, with one internal chamber at median region (no histological details at base of stalk), without muscles; length 3.10 mm, diameter 1.17 mm, diameter of base of stalk (swollen adhesive disc) 1.82 mm (Fig. 1 A − C). Base of stalk with an ovoid pit, 0.35 x 0.20 mm (Fig. 1 F). Abaxial cushion or pad-like adhesive organ at base of tentacular cluster, length 0.13 mm, width 0.60 mm (Fig. 1 A, E). Manubrium four-sided in cross-section. Numerous gastric cirri in gastrovascular cavity (Fig. 1 D). Eight adradial gonads extending from manubrium to distal end of arms, organized into four pairs of bands; each band consisting of elongated, nodular lobes of irregular shape (Fig. 1 D). Numerous nematocyst vesicles distributed at margin on subumbrellar surface. Preserved material yellowish-brown in color. Tentacles with two types of nematocysts: isorhizas (light microscopy was insufficient to distinguish spines), abundant, 11.74 x 2.56 µm (n = 10) (mean size of undischarged capsules); euryteles (type I), scarce, 11.0 x 6.0 µm (n = 1) (Fig. 1 G, H). Subumbrellar vesicles with three types of nematocysts: isorhizas (light microscopy was insufficient to distinguish spines), scarce, 10.57 x 2.36 μm (n = 2); euryteles (type II), abundant, 8.36 x 6.33 μm (n = 10); euryteles (type III), scarce, 6.77 x 3.35 μm (n = 2) (Fig. 1 I − K). The family Kishinouyeidae, encompassing the genera Kishinouyea, Lucernariopsis, and Sasakiella, is taxonomically problematic. The distinction between the genera Kishinouyea / Lucernariopsis and Sasakiella is based on absence or presence of primary tentacles, respectively, in the stauromedusa stage (Kramp 1961). However, juvenile stauromedusae of Kishinouyea and Lucernariopsis also have primary tentacles (Corbin 1978; Grohmann et al. 1999), so this distinction cannot be used because it only reflects developmental stages in the life cycle. The difference between Lucernariopsis and Kishinouyea / Sasakiella is the number of internal chambers in the stalk: one chamber throughout the stalk in Lucernariopsis, one in most part of the stalk but four-chambered basally in Sasakiella and Kishinouyea (Kramp 1961). However, detailed histological studies are not common, especially because few individuals (sometimes only one, as in this study) are available. Consequently, some misunderstandings exist concerning this character (e. g., Edmondson 1930 describing four chambers at median part of stalk in K. hawaiiensis, when in fact it has one chamber with four regions; see Edmondson 1930, fig. 6 b) that hamper evolutionary understanding of the character and the suitability of using it in taxonomic discussions. We present here the second recorded individual of L. capensis, and the first record of it from outside its type-locality. The morphology of Brazilian material matches the original description as presented by Carlgren (1938) from the South African type. However, the specimen from Brazil is smaller (Table 1) and perhaps a juvenile, as corroborated by the probable vestige of a primary tentacle found between two of the arms (see Corbin 1978, p. 285) (Fig. 1 E).
distribution
Distribution. East London, South Africa, Indian Ocean (1 specimen); Itanhaém, Brazil, Atlantic Ocean (1 specimen).
materials_examined
Type series and locality. East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Indian Ocean; 1 individual. The specimen was received from the Zoological Institute of the University of Cape Town and described by Carlgren (1938). The current location of type material is unknown. Also unknown are the collector, collection date, and substrate. The material, received by Carlgren after 1935, retained its green color in formalin (Carlgren 1938) so was probably collected a short time before being sent to him. Material examined. Itanhaém, São Paulo, Brazil, Atlantic Ocean, ~ 24 ° 11 ’ 30 ’’ S; 46 ° 47 ’ 30 ’’ W. 0 8 April 1985, intertidal zone, on algae (Sargassum sp.), formaldehyde solution, col. M. A. Haddad, det. L. S. Miranda and C. E. Mills, 1 individual (Fig. 1), MZUSP 1566. The material is not well preserved, making it difficult to observe some structures (e. g., gonads, inner part of stalk, and manubrium).