Nausithoe punctata

Remarks: this worldwide distributed species is probably a species complex. Detailed studies on morphology, life cycle and genetics will provide further evidence to distinguish forms in this species complex. The life cycle is known for colonial specimens growing on sponges from the Mediterranean (Werner 1973). A recent description of the medusa stage is provided by Jarms (2002). Distribution in South America: medusa — Pacific Ocean, off Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru (Segura-Puertas 1984), Chile, from 19.6 ºS to 37 ºS (Kramp 1966; Fagetti 1973); Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, at 3.9 ° S 33.6 ° W near Atol das Rocas, at 11.8 ° S 37.3 ° W off Bahia, from 23 ° S to 26.7 ° S (Goy 1979; Neumann-Leitão et al. 2008; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Nogueira Jr. et al. 2014, 2015 b). Habitat: epipelagic, neritic and oceanic (Kramp 1966; Goy 1979).