Sarsia Lesson, 1843

Wang, Xiao, Chen, Xiao-Yin & Xu, Zhen-Zu, 2022, Two new species and four new records of the Sarsia tubulosa group of Sarsia (Cnidaria, Corynidae) from the Bohai Sea of China, Zootaxa 5189 (1), pp. 243-254 : 245

Genus Sarsia Lesson, 1843

Synonyms: Sthenyo Dujardin, 1845 ; Codonium Haeckel, 1879 ; Sarsiella Hartlaub, 1907 ; Stauridiosarsia Mayer, 1910 ; Syndiction Agassiz, 1862.

Sarsia Lesson, 1843 ; Schushert, 2001; Bouillon et al., 2006.

Type species: Sarsia tubulosa (M. sars, 1835)

Diagnosis: The genus is diagnosed according to the following characteristics: the manubrium of medusa extends beyond umbrella margin and is divided into a thin, long, serpentine proximal part and a swollen distal part with a wide stomach. Gonad forms a cylinder around only the thin serpentine part of manubrium, leaving the distal stomach free of gonad. Tentacles are unbranched.

Remarks: Members of this genus are easily distinguished from all other genera by the marginal bulbs of the medusa, which lack adaxial cnidocyst pads. Gonads are not interrupted and form an unbroken ring. Manubrium extends beyond umbrella margin, with a thin proximal part.

The Sarsia tubulosa group of the genus Sarsia comprises 11 valid species (including the new species), of which, two are new species and four are first recorded in the China sea. These six and the Sarsia tubulosa (M. sars, 1835) listed below are described in detail in present work.

Sarsia bohaiensis Xu, Wang, & Chen sp. nov.

Sarsia macrogastera Xu, Chen, & Wang sp. nov.

Sarsia apicula (Murbach & Shearer, 1902) , new record to China.

Sarsia piriforma Edwards, 1983 , new record to China.

Sarsia striata Edwards, 1983 new record to China.

Sarsia viridis Brinckmann-Voss, 1980 , new record to China.

Sarsia tubulosa (M. sars, 1835), new record to the Bohai Sea of China.