Family ALATINIDAE Gershwin, 2005

Museums

Regional Maps

• Gershwin, L. 2005. Carybdea alata auct. and Manokia stiasnyi, reclassification to a new family with description of a new genus and two new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51(2): 501-523 [504]

Introduction

The family Alatinidae was erected in 2005 to separate the species cluster previously associated with or known as "Carybdea alata" away from the other species of Carybdea; based on numerous structural features. Also in the Alatinidae is the enigmatic branched-tentacled Manokia stiasnyi from Papua New Guinea. Most of the species in the Alatinidae are poorly known and in need of new material. At least three forms are known from Australian waters, namely, Alatina mordens from the outer Great Barrier Reef region, the diminutive Alatina rainensis, currently only known from Raine Island, and a very large form from Ningaloo Reef that has been previously identified as "Carybdea alata grandis"; however, whether it is identical to the true A. grandis remains to be demonstrated.

CAUTION: It should be noted that Alatina mordens has been associated with several life-threatening cases of Irukandji syndrome; the species and its relatives should not be handled, and sting victims should be monitored for at least 30 minutes for development of severe systemic symptoms.

Diagnosis

Gastric phacellae crescentic, comprised of long cirri arranged more or less parallel in a single plane; with T-shaped rhopalial niche ostia, comprised of a single upper covering scale and 2 lower, well developed covering scales; with 3 or 4 more or less simple velarial canals per octant; with a shallow stomach, completely lacking perradial mesenteries.

Diagnosis References

Gershwin, L. 2005. Carybdea alata auct. and Manokia stiasnyi, reclassification to a new family with description of a new genus and two new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51(2): 501-523 [504]

History of changes