Clytia hemisphaerica (Linnaeus, 1767)

Estrada-González, Mariae C., Agüero, José & Mendoza-Becerril, María A., 2023, Medusozoans from the Mexican Pacific: a review based on historical literature and recent observations, Journal of Natural History 57 (1), pp. 784-853 : 832-833

Clytia hemisphaerica (Linnaeus, 1767)

( Figure 8B )

Material examined

1 colony, polyp; Punta Diablo, La Paz Bay , Baja California Sur, 24.316°N, 110.340°W; depth 0–3 m; 14 September 2017; on barnacles, bivalve, and rock; ECO-CH-Z 11754 . – 1 colony, polyp, without gonophores; Punta Los Muertos, Baja California Sur, 24.248°N, 110.150°W; depth 1–2 m; 20 July 2018; on the algae Condracanthus sp . And Hypnea spinella ; ECO-CH-Z 11766 . – 2 colonies, polyp, without gonophores; El Mogote Sand Bar, La Paz Bay , Baja California Sur, 24.159°N, 110.341°W; depth 0–2 m; 1 July 2019; on undetermined algae; ECO-CH-Z 11799 .

Identification (after Calder 1991)

Colonies stolonal; pedicels annulated basally and distally and smooth in the middle. Hydrothecae cone-shaped, walls convex just above the diaphragm, nearly straight elsewhere. Hydrothecal diaphragm straight, margin with 11–14 slender cusps separated by Ushaped incisions, with tips of cusps rounded. U-shaped pleat extending inwards into hydrothecal cavity. Gonotheca arising from hydrorhiza on short slender pedicels; gonothecal walls with distinct spiral ribs. Gonotheca with short tubular neck; distal end truncate.

Distribution

Previously reported from the west coast of the Gulf of California, Baja California ( Fraser 1938b), making it a new record for Baja California Sur. In the rest of the Gulf of California it has been recorded in Sonora ( Fraser 1948) and in the MP in Baja California, Baja California Sur, Colima, Jalisco, Oaxaca ( Fraser 1938a, 1948), and Guerrero ( Salcedo-Martínez et al. 1988).

Figures

Figure 8. A, Clytia cf. gracilis (M. Sars, 1850): hydrotheca. B, Clytia hemisphaerica (Linnaeus, 1767): hydrotheca. (C, D) Clytia linearis (Thornely, 1900): C, colony; D, hydrotheca. (E–G) Obelia dichotoma (Linnaeus, 1758): B, hydrothecae; C, colony; D, gonothecae from apophysis; E, gonothecae from hydrorhiza. Scale bars: A, B, D = 250 μm; C = 1 cm; F, G = 200 μm; E = 500 μm. Drawings made by Nicholas Bezio.