Sarsia apicula (Murbach & Shearer, 1902)

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 : 248-249

Sarsia apicula (Murbach & Shearer, 1902) , new record to China ( Fig. 4 )

Codonium apiculum Murbach & Shearer, 1902: 72 ; Murbach & Shearer. 1903: 165, pl. 17 Fig. 1 , pl. 22 Figs. 4 ~5. Sarsia apicula, Hartlaub, 1907: 17 , Fig, 9; Brinckmann-Voss, 1980: 18, Figs. 8 . 9a; Brinckmann-Voss, 1985: 673, Figs. 1–5 ; Schuchert, 2001: 818 ~821, Fig. 30 A–C; Bouillon et al., 2006: 239.

Material examined: Holotype ( FIO-HCCS03 ), one specimen from the Bohai Sea of China. Station 4-5 (39°50’30.84”N, 119°38’16.41”E), depth 12.0 m, April 2020, collected by Xiao Wang.

Description. Adult medusa is 9~ 10 mm high, diameter 8~ 9 mm, bell top pointed to rounded, jelly thick. Subumbrella nearly conical. Manubrium becomes very long, reaching about two times the height of the bell in living specimens, extending beyond the orifice of the bell when completely contracted in preserved specimens, with high conical apical knob. Manubrium has long, thin serpentine part with distal swollen stomach. Gonad covers nearly entire serpentine part, thickness near top in extended manubrium tapers evenly, very short portion of manubrium (about 1/20) not covered by gonad. Radial canals enter the gastrodermal chambers at the top, passing a very short distance through mesogloea. Epidermal parts of bulbs have incomplete nematocyst rings. Bulbs have black ocelli. Tentacles are at least two times as long as bell, covered by dense nematocyst clusters, terminal cluster not thickened. Colors: manubrium, tentacles, and apical knob reddish.

Distribution: The Bohai Sea of China; Northeastern Pacific, Puget Sound, Sooke, Victoria Harbour, Friday Harbour, and San Juan Islands ( Brinckmann-Voss, 2000).

Remarks. The medusa of Sarsia apicula is characterized by pinkish tentacles, its conical subumbrella, and the tapering of the gonad towards the manubrium base. Preserved medusae are almost indistinguishable from S. tubulosa and S. princeps which are sympatric (the Bohai Sea of China).

Sarsia apicula is distinguished from the typical blue S. tubulosa by its triangular bell, the pinkish color of its tentacles and manubrium, and the very short proximal part of the manubrium (about 1/20 of manubrium). It is distinguished from S. princeps by its non-branching apical canal, its radial canals entering the mesogloea, and the high gastrodermal chambers of the tentacular bulbs.

Figures

FIG. 4 Sarsia apicula Murbach & Shearer, 1902 A. and B. lateral view; C.Tentacle bulbs in frontal view; D.Tentacle bulbs in lateral view.(C.D. after Murback & Shearer, 1902)

FIG. 1 Map of the study area

FIG. 8 Sarsia tubulosa (M. sars, 1835) A. and B. Lateral view, after preserved specimen from the Bohai sea of China; C. tentacular bulbs in frontal view; D. tentacle bulbs in lateral view; (C–D after Edwards, 1978).