Species Alatina grandis (Agassiz & Mayer, 1902)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Carybdea alata grandis Agassiz, A. & Mayer, A.G. 1902. Reports of the scientific research expedition to the tropical Pacific. U.S. Fish Comm. St. Albatross, 1899–1900. III. The Medusae. Memoirs of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College 26(3): 139–176, 14 pls [153].

Generic Combinations

• Alatina grandis (Agassiz & Mayer, 1902). —
  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 [516]

Distribution

States

Western Australia

Ecological Descriptors

Carnivorous, marine, nectonic, pelagic.

Diagnosis

The species seems distinctive based on its extremely large size, and in having only one median eye and short, branched velarial canals.

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 [516]

Notes

Reported in Australia by: Marsh & Slack-Smith, 1986; Williamson et al., 1996.

The type material of this species from the Paumotus, has apparently been lost; neither MCZ nor USNM know of its whereabouts. Specimens from the Society Islands (MCZ1043 and MCZ 342), identified by H. Bigelow as C. grandis, match the original description but are too poorly preserved to be usefully interpretable. One (MCZ 342, BH 170.93, DBW 57.78, IRW 33.56+), bears the following collection data: Pacific Ocean, Society Islands, coll. A. Garrett, 29.ix.1861; originally preserved in alcohol, now preserved in formalin. The other (MCZ 1043, BH 184.55, DBW 59.55, IRW33.18), was apparently collected at the same time, and delivered to the MCZ by A. Garrett in 1864 (Fig. 5B). The species seems distinctive based on its extremely large size, and in having only one median eye and short, branched velarial canals.

General References

Marsh, L. & Slack-Smith, S. 1986. Sea Stingers. Perth, Western Australia : Western Australian Museum.

Williamson, J., Fenner, P., Burnett, J. & Rifkin, J. (eds) 1996. Venomous and Poisonous Marine Animals: a medical and biological handbook. Sydney, Australia : NSW University Press 800 pp.

History of changes