Suborder DAKTYLIOPHORAE Stiasny, 1921

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Introduction

Members of the suborder Daktyliophorae are easily distinguished from those of the suborder Kolpophorae, in that in the Daktyliophorae, the oral arms are three-winged; the anastomosing canal network does not communicate directly with the gastral cavity; the rhopaliar pits have radial folds, and the subgenital ostia are narrowed by papillae. In contrast, in the Kolpophorae, the oral arms are dichotomous and triangular or three-winged; the anastomosing network of canals communicates directly with the gastral cavity in several places between the radial canals; the rhopaliar pits are smooth, lacking radial folds; and the subgenital ostia lack papillae.

The Daktyliophorae contains two superfamilies, the Inscapulatae and the Scapulatae. The Inscapulatae lack scapulets on the oral arms, have a permanent ring canal, have 16 or 32 radial canals not all reaching the margin, and have a continuous subgenital porticus. The Scapulatae have eight pairs of scapulets on the upper portion of the oral arms, may or may not have a ring canal, have 16 radial canals all reaching the margin, and have four separated subgenital cavities.

Diagnosis

Mouth-arms three-winged. A network of anastomosing canals, issuing from the primary ring canal, does not communicate with the gastral cavity except through the radial canals. Subumbrellar muscles annular. Rhopalar pits with radial folds. Subgenital ostia narrowed by papillae.

Diagnosis References

Kramp, P.L. 1961. Synopsis of the medusae of the world. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 40: 1-469 [365]

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