Abstract
Specimens of Pegantha laevis H.B. Bigelow, 1909 and Pegantha triloba Haeckel, 1879 were found in oceanic waters off the northern Brazilian coast. The former species is clearly distinct due to the thickness and shape of peripheral channels, while the latter is recognized mainly due to the exumbrellar furrows and long otoporpae. This study represents the first actual record of P. laevis inside the Brazilian Economic Exclusive zone, since previous reports were far away from the coast, and clarify the presence of P. triloba off Brazil.
Highlights
Holoplanktonic hydromedusae of the family Solmarisidae Haeckel, 1879 is distinguished from other Narcomedusae mainly by the absence of manubrial pouches, the periphery of manubrium is circular and unbroken at the same level as the tentacles rise
This study represents the first actual record of P. laevis inside the Brazilian Economic Exclusive zone, since previous reports were far away from the coast, and clarifies the presence of P. triloba off Brazil
Two genera are recognized in the family: i) Pegantha Haeckel, 1879, with a peripheral canal system and otoporpae, and gonads forming lobes on the margin of manubrium wall; and ii) Solmaris Haeckel, 1879, without peripheral canal system and otoporpae and with simple annular gonads (Bouillon & Boero, 2000; Bouillon, et al 2004, 2006)
Summary
Holoplanktonic hydromedusae of the family Solmarisidae Haeckel, 1879 is distinguished from other Narcomedusae mainly by the absence of manubrial pouches, the periphery of manubrium is circular and unbroken at the same level as the tentacles rise. Specimens of Pegantha laevis H.B. Bigelow, 1909 and Pegantha triloba Haeckel, 1879 were found in oceanic waters off the northern Brazilian coast. All valid species are widely distributed, mostly in epipelagic oceanic waters (Kramp, 1957, 1961; Bouillon, 1999).
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