Family LEUCOTHEIDAE Lesson, 1843

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Introduction

The family Leucotheidae comprises the single genus Leucothea, members of which are found in temperate to tropical waters of all oceans. In Australian waters, it appears that at least three separate species of Leucothea are present: one very large form in Tasmania with a yellow-green gut and prominent diverticula beneath the ctene rows; one smaller quite orange form in Tasmania and the Great Australian Bight; and another smaller form with broad ctene rows and a yellowish body with a pale orange gut from Moreton Bay. An unidentified species, from QLD, SA, and TAS has been reported by Harbison & Miller (1986, Coral Sea), Edgar (1997, 2000, southern Australia), Gershwin & Zeidler (2003, Nuyts Archipelago), K. Gowlett-Holmes (1998 unpublished notes, Tasman Peninsula), Gershwin & Zeidler (2001, unpublsihed notes, Bass Strait), and Gershwin (2000, unpublished notes, Moreton Bay).

The feeding habits of Leucothea are like those of Bolinopsidae. Development from a cydippid larva proceeds from a medusoid form and Bolinopsis-like stage to the adult. All larval stages may develop gonads under certain conditions. From Harbison & Madin (1982).

Diagnosis

Species of Leucothea attain heights of over 20 cm. Young individuals are usually transparent; adults may have yellow or brown pigmentation on the oral lobes or papillae. The oral lobes are extremely large and delicate, and contain complex windings of the substomodaeal meridional canals. In general, the arrangement of the canals is like that in Bolinopsidae. The auricles are long and serpentine. Long primary tentacles extend aborally from the tentacle bulbs; secondary tentacles form a dense veil along the labial ridge, extending onto the oral lobes. The body surface is covered with numerous papillae that extend rapidly when touched. Unique to the genus are two long pits which open to the outside aborally to the tentacle bulbs and which run aborally to the level of the infundibulum, where they end blindly. The substomodaeal comb rows are much longer than the subtentaculars.

Diagnosis References

Harbison, G.R. & Madin, L.P. 1982. Ctenophora. 707-715, pls 68-69 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Taxonomy and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw-Hill Vol. 1. [714]

General References

Edgar, G.J. 1997. Australian Marine Life, the plants and animals of temperate waters. Kew, Victoria, Australia : Reed Books 544 pp.

Edgar, G.J. 2000. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland Revised Edn, 544 pp.

Gershwin, L. & Zeidler, W. 2003. Encounter 2002 expedition to the Isles of St Francis, South Australia: Medusae, siphonophores and ctenophores of the Nuyts Archipelago. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 127(2): 205-241, 14 pls

Harbison, G.R. & Madin, L.P. 1982. Ctenophora. 707-715, pls 68-69 in Parker, S.P. (ed.). Taxonomy and Classification of Living Organisms. New York : McGraw-Hill Vol. 1.

Harbison, G.R. & Miller, R.L. 1986. Not all ctenophores are hermaphrodites. Studies on the systematics, distribution, sexuality and development of two species of Ocyropsis. Marine Biology 90: 413-424

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