New record of linuche draco (Scyphozoa, coronatae, linuchidae) from Japan

Abstract

The order Coronatae is a unique group, with the following characters distinguishing them from other scyphozoans: a coronal furrow, a coronate pedalium, and oocytes that develop without accessory pigments. Coronatae polyps are enclosed in chitinous tubes and produce multiple ephyrae via polydisk strobilation. So far, eleven described species of Coronatae have been reported in Japanese waters: Atolla wyvillei, Atolla vanhoeffeni, Atolla russelli, Atorella vanhoeffeni, Atorella japonica, Nausithoe punctata, Palephyra pelagica, Periphylla periphylla, Periphyllopsis braueri, Stephanoscyphistoma corniformis and Nausithoe racemosa. The present study reports detailed observations of the morphology of one species newly recorded in Japan: Linuche draco. Development from ephyra to mature medusa was observed and recorded. Additional investigations are needed to understand the diversity of the order Coronatae in Japan.