First record of Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa, Mastigiidae) in Mexico

Ricardo Aguilar-Durán,Marina Sánchez-Ramírez,Alberto Ocaña-Luna

doi:10.3391/ai.2010.5.s1.017

Abstract

The Australian spot jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata has not been recorded previously for any coast of Mexico. A giant jellyfish was recorded for the first time in June 2006 in Laguna de Mandinga, southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Between 2007 and 2008, another three adult specimens were collected and later in May 2009 and April-June 2010 a great number of juveniles and adults were observed, of which 142 were collected. The presence of juveniles and adults throughout five consecutive years indicates that the species has a seasonal pattern. It migrates from the Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano (SAV) into Laguna de Mandinga during the spring, aided by the tide that flows along the estuary of the Jamapa River. The population then decreases at the end of the summer, during the rainy season, when salinity decreases (10 psu). The recruitment area of the polyps is probably associated with the coral reefs in the SAV.

Highlights

The spot jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 belongs to the family Mastigiidae, Order Rhizostomeae, and was initially described from specimens collected in Port Jackson, eastern Australia (Mayer 1910)
Larson and Arneson (1990) recorded it in San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, California, in 1981, where it is considered a species that was probably introduced by transportation of the polyps on ship hulls arriving from Honolulu Harbor, and has apparently become established
Laguna de Mandinga lies at 19o00' -19o06'N and 96o02'-96o06'W in the state of Veracruz, southwestern Gulf of Mexico (Figure 1). It joins the Jamapa river 2 km upriver from the coast, and through this it communicates with the Veracruz Reef System (Parque Marino Nacional: Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano, SAV)

Summary

Introduction

The spot jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 belongs to the family Mastigiidae, Order Rhizostomeae, and was initially described from specimens collected in Port Jackson, eastern Australia (Mayer 1910). The spot jellyfish is an abundant tropical species in coastal areas such as estuaries, lagoons and bays.

Results

Conclusion