Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56

A remarkable new jellyfish (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) from coastal Australia, representing a new suborder within the Rhizostomeae

Citation

Gershwin, L. & Davie, P.J.F. 2013. A remarkable new jellyfish (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) from coastal Australia, representing a new suborder within the Rhizostomeae. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum – Nature 56(2): 625-630. Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835. https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-18

Published online

30 June 2013

Peer reviewed

Yes

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17082/j.2204-1478.56.2.2013-18

Keywords

Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae, Bazingidae, blubber jelly, new species, taxonomy

Abstract 

A new genus and species of rhizostome jellyfish, which cannot be placed in any known family or suborder, is described from central eastern Australia. The Ptychophorae suborder nov., can be separated from the two recognised suborders of the Rhizostomeae in having hooded rhopalia rather than open pits, unbranched evenly-spaced radial canals, and a large circular stomach. It also possesses a unique combination of some of the primary diagnostic characters of rhizostome families in both current suborders. Moreover, Bazinga rieki gen. nov., sp. nov. is unique among all rhizostomes in its very small mature size. It is probable that this species has been previously mistaken for juveniles of other species.