Medusozoans (Cnidaria) from the Mexican Pacific: a review based on historical literature and recent observations

Abstract

ABSTRACT Medusozoans are diverse in species number (4100) and life stages and are of ecological and social importance worldwide. However, studies of medusozoans in the Mexican Pacific (MP) are limited and scattered. Given that its maritime (2,320,380 km2) and coastal (7828 km) regions are the most extensive in Mexico, as well as its geomorphological and ecosystem complexity, the medusozoan fauna of the MP needs better documentation. To that end, this work summarises medusozoan diversity data of the MP based on a review of refereed publications (1897–2023) and the examination of recently collected specimens, field observations, and photographs (2015–2022). Information gathered from the literature search and the collections was compiled into an annotated list of species. As a result, 423 accepted medusozoan species were found in the MP, corresponding to 10% of the 4100 medusozoan species known worldwide. This study highlights three important decades of published work: taxonomic works in the 1930s, ecological works in the 1980s, and recognition of biodiversity under multidisciplinary works in the 2010s. Of the taxa collected in the present work, Cirrholovenia sp., Linuche sp., and Monotheca flexuosa are new records for the MP. Furthermore, Hydrocoryne sp. and Coryne pusilla are new records for the Gulf of California.