Clytia linearis

16 S Data: The 16 S sequence of our single sample was compared to the 16 S dataset of Cunha et al. (2017). It was nested within the well supported Clytia linearis clade (tree not shown). Its sister clade is made up of the sequences AY 789810 and AY 346362 from Beaufort NC and the Mediterranean respectively (provenence acc. Govindarajan et al., 2006). The sequence divergence from AY 789810 is 2.5 %.

Fig. 46 A-B

Observations: Medusa 3.5 mm, bell when relaxed rather flat (Fig. 46 A), height about 1 / 3 of diameter, jelly moderately thick. Manubrium small, four very short, simple perradial lips. Four radial canals, two of them (accidentally?) approximated and therefore not giving a perfectly tetraradial symmetry. Gonads male, very thick and long, sausage shaped, arising at short distance from manubrium and stretching to almost circular canal. 39 tentacles, each arising from a spherical basal bulb, thin and long. 1 to 2 atentaculate, smaller bulbs. At least as many or more statocysts as tentacles. Colour: all tissues with a green hue, transparent.

Remarks: The identification of this medusa was based solely on its 16 S sequence which was nested within a well supported Clytia linearis clade. The morphology matched rather well the description of Clytia linearis in Lindner & Migotto (2002) which was based on cultivated medusae. It only had slightly more tentacles and much larger gonads, both easily attributable to more optimal growth conditions. Notable were the rather flat umbrella and the small size.

Distribution: Circumglobal in shallow warm waters (Lindner & Migotto, 2002). Type locality: Papua New Guinea, New Britain, Blanche Bay (Thornely, 1900; hydroid).

Examined material: BFLA 4077; 1 specimen; 16 - APR- 2019; size 3.5 mm; preserved in alcohol for DNA extraction; 16 S sequence MW 528668.