DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
- Gershwin, L. 2006. Comments on Chiropsalmus (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Chirodropida): a preliminary revision of the Chiropsalmidae, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 1231: 1-42
Introduction
The family Chirodropidae was long and widely accepted to encompass all branched-pedalia cubozoans, but was more narrowly redefined by Gershwin (2006a) to exclude the simple-sacculed taxa.
The family currently encompasses several taxa that are quite diverse morphologically, i.e., Chironex, the so-called 'deadly box jellyfish' with cocks-comb-like gastric saccules and leaf-like gonads growing from the top of the septa downward; Chirodropus, with feather-like gastric saccules; and Chirodectes, with filamentous gonads and no gastric saccules. It is possible that as more species become known, this family will be further divided to more accurately express the relationships among these taxa.
Diagnosis
Chirodropida with branched gastric saccules, or lacking gastric saccules; with leaf-like gonads growing from the top of the septa downward, or with filamentous gonads.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |
DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
- Chirodectes Gershwin, L. 2006. Comments on Chiropsalmus (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Chirodropida): a preliminary revision of the Chiropsalmidae, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 1231: 1-42 [17].
Type species:
Chiropsalmus maculatus Cornelius et al., 2005 by original designation.
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Known only from Great Barrier Reef
IMCRA
Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Diagnosis
Chirodropidae without gastric saccules; with large fields of well developed subumbrellar muscle bands spanning the perradial sides; with large fields of gastric cirri lining the interradial sides of the stomach wall; with filamentous gonads.
Diagnosis References
Gershwin, L. 2006. Comments on Chiropsalmus (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Chirodropida): a preliminary revision of the Chiropsalmidae, with descriptions of two new species. Zootaxa 1231: 1-42 [17]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |
Species Chirodectes maculatus (Cornelius, Fenner & Hore, 2005)
Compiler and date details
June 2012 - Lisa-ann Gershwin
DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
- Chiropsalmus maculatus Cornelius, P.F.S., Fenner, P.J. & Hore, R. 2005. Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov., a cubomedusa from the Great Barrier Reef. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 51(2): 399–405 [401].
Type data:
Holotype QM G316989 (2 May 1997, within 5 m of surface), Just inside Outer Barrier Reef, NE Queensland, 43 km off mainland [15°59.050'S, 145°49.294'E].
Generic Combinations
- Chiropsalmus maculatus (Cornelius, Fenner & Hore, 2005).
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Known only from type locality.
IMCRA
Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)
Ecological Descriptors
Carnivorous, marine, pelagic.
Diagnosis
As for genus.
Notes
The species was described into the genus Chiropsalmus; however, Gershwin (2006a) promptly showed that its combination of unique characters made this an untenable assignment, and created the new genus Chirodectes for it.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05-Aug-2022 | MEDUSOZOA Petersen, 1979 | 25-Nov-2013 | MODIFIED | Dr Lisa Gershwin |
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |
DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
- Chironex Southcott, R.V. 1956. Studies on Australian cubomedusae, including a new genus and species apparently harmful to man. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 7(2): 254–280 [259].
Type species:
Chironex fleckeri Southcott, 1956 by original designation.
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Indo-west Pacific
IMCRA
Northern Shelf Province (25)
Other Regions
Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater
Diagnosis
Bell very cuboid, lacking exumbrellar nematocysts. Tentacles robust, flat in cross section. Pedalial canal with upward-pointing "thorn" projecting off the bend. Gastric saccules solid, cock's-comb-shaped, covered with functional gonad; lateral gonad reduced.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |
DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
- Chironex fleckeri Southcott, R.V. 1956. Studies on Australian cubomedusae, including a new genus and species apparently harmful to man. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 7(2): 254–280 [259].
Type data:
Holotype SAMA H12♂, Cardwell, QLD.
Paratype(s) SAMA H16 (immature), Cardwell, QLD; SAMA H13♀; SAMA H19♀, Darwin, NT; SAMA H17 (juvenile), Cardwell, QLD; SAMA H16 (juvenile); SAMA H18 (late juvenile), Cairns, QLD.
Distribution
States
Northern Territory, Queensland
IMCRA
Northern Shelf Province (25)
Other Regions
Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater
Ecological Descriptors
Carnivorous, estuary, marine, nectonic, pelagic.
Diagnosis
Bell to about 200mm high, lacking exumbrellar nematocysts. Tentacles robust, flat in cross section, up to 15 per pedalium. Pedalial canal with upward-pointing "thorn" projecting off the bend. Gastric saccules solid, cock's-comb-shaped, covered with functional gonad; lateral gonad reduced. Mesenteries cord-like from stomach to rhopalium. Statolith medicine-tablet-shaped, cylindrical with rounded ends.
Sting
Chironex fleckeri has long been considered the 'world's deadliest animal', and is capable of killing an adult human in 2–3 minutes. Similar lethal jellyfishes occur throughout southeast Asia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea; these are probably closely related to C. fleckeri.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |
DRAFT RECORD
This taxon is under review. This record is released now for public view, prior to final verification. For further information or comment email us.
Distribution
States
Northern Territory
Extra Distribution Information
Darwin.
Ecological Descriptors
Carnivorous, marine, neritic.
Notes
A form of Chironex, which does not match the description of any other known species, is common in the Darwin region of the Northern Territory. Its identity is still under investigation.
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13-Aug-2013 | MODIFIED |