Family ULMARIDAE Haeckel, 1880

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Introduction

The Ulmaridae contains four subfamilies, the Aureliinae, Sthenoniinae, Stygiomedusinae, and Ulmarinae; only the Aureliinae is represented in Australian waters. Von Lendenfeld (1884d) described Aurelia coerulea from Sydney, and it appears to be distinct from Aurelia species overseas. However, with new information about species boundaries in Aurelia, it seems highly likely that other species of the genus are present in Australian waters, remaining to be discovered.

Aurelia is one of the commonest jellyfishes on earth, and indeed, in Australian waters as well. It is easily identified, having a flat body with thousands of short, fine tentacles along its scalloped margin, and four conspicuous gastro-gonadal rings near the centre of the body.

Diagnosis

Semaeostome scyphomedusae with gastrovascular system of unbranched and branched radial canals with varying degree of anastomoses.

Diagnosis References

Russell, F.S. 1970. Medusae of the British Isles. II. Pelagic Scyphozoa with a Supplement to the First Volume on Hydromedusae. Cambridge : Cambridge University Press 284 pp. [139]

History of changes