Mnemiopsis leidyi A. Agassiz, 1865

Synonyms in the area: Mnemia schweiggeri Eschscholtz, 1825; Alcinoe vermiculata Rang, 1828; Mnemia schweiggeri —Eschscholtz 1829; Alcinoe rosea Mertens, 1833; Alcinoe vermiculata —Moser 1910; Alcinoe rosea —Moser 1910; Mnemiopsis mccradyi —Petrechen 1946; Mianzan & Sabatini 1985; Mianzan 1999; Mianzan & Guerrero 2000; Morandini et al. 2005b.

Remarks: records of Mnemiopsis sp. for the Chilean coast (Palma 1994; Palma & Rosales 1995) are possibly misidentifications (Palma, pers. comm.). For more taxonomical details see Oliveira (2007) and Oliveira et al. (2010a, abstract).

Distribution in South America: Atlantic Ocean, Colombia to Argentina, from 12ºN to 46ºS (Eschscholtz 1825, 1829; Rang 1828; Mertens 1833; Moser 1910; Petrechen 1946; Moncaleano & Niño 1976; Mianzan & Sabatini 1985; Mianzan 1999; Mianzan & Guerrero 2000; Morandini et al. 2005b; Oliveira & Migotto 2006; Oliveira 2007; Oliveira et al. 2007, 2010a, abstract; Nogueira Jr. 2012; Lindner, 2014).

Habitat: euryhaline and neritic species, found in coastal and estuarine waters (Mianzan & Sabatini 1985; Oliveira & Migotto 2006; Oliveira 2007).