Leuckartiara octona ( Fleming, 1823 )

Buecher, Emmanuelle, Goy, Jacqueline, J, Mark & Gibbons, 2005, Hydromedusae of the Agulhas Current, African Invertebrates 46, pp. 27-69 : 43

Leuckartiara octona ( Fleming, 1823)

Geryonia octona: Fleming 1823: 299 .

Leuckartiara octona: Russell 1953: 188–195 , figs 91–96; Kramp 1961: 105; 1968: 47, fig. 121.

Description: 43 specimens from 21 stations. Bell-shaped umbrella, taller than broad and with pronounced, hollow apical projection, up to 12 mm in height. Exumbrella surface smooth. Mesoglea thickened apically, thin laterally. Velum broad. Peripheral canal conspicuous; four broad radial canals present, with irregular margin; no centripetal canals. 12 marginal tentacles arising from laterally compressed bulbs on umbrella margin; bulbs with abaxial spur. Tentacles long, hollow. 12–24 secondary tentaculae present, short, solid; 1–3 regularly alternating with larger tentacles. Manubrium enlarged, occupying much of subumbrella cavity, flask-shaped, with broad base, connected to radial canals by mesenteries. Mouth with much crenulated lips; without gastric peduncle. With ocelli at base of tentacles and tentaculae. Gonads horseshoe shaped, bipartite, on manubrium, interradial, with extensive transverse folds directed perradially.

Material examined: H5021, H5022.

Comments: see L. gardinieri .

Distribution: World-wide in tropical and temperate waters. Previously collected around the Seychelles (Bouillon 1978 b) and along the east coast of South Africa ( Millard 1975). Neritic.