Stalked trumpet jelly

Depastridae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Medusozoa
Class: Staurozoa
Order: Stauromedusae
Suborder: Cleistocarpida
Family: Depastridae
Genus: Depastromorpha
Species: D. africana
Binomial name
Depastromorpha africana
Carlgren, 1935[1]

The stalked trumpet jelly, Depastromorpha africana, is a species of stalked jellyfish in the small family Depastridae. It is the only member of its genus.

Description

This small stalked jellyfish grows up to 2cm in height and may be pale to reddish in colour. It has a wrinkled body column and multiple stalked tentacles with knobbed ends surrounding the mouth.[2]

Distribution

This sea fan has so far been found only around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Hermanus from the shore to shallow subtidal. It is possibly endemic to this region.

Ecology

This stalked jelly is usually found on seaweeds, particularly Caulerpa filiformis.[3]

References

  1. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=289801 accessed 2 August 2013
  2. Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
  3. Day J.H, Field, J.G. & Penrith M.J. 1970. The Benthic Fauna and Fishes of False Bay, South Africa. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr, 34(1):1-108
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