Ormond-by-the-sea: Chrysaora sp. and Aequorea sp. (Numerous)
Description and Comments
There have been numerous jellyfish along the Ormond Beach area, and the numbers have rose unusually in the past few days. The first couple I noticed were completely clear, round and smooth. The next few days, I noticed they were unusual. The underside of the bell had lines of harder mesoglea, presumably gonads,that radiated across the bell towards the center, like Aequorea. Also like Aequorea, there was a round disk like area in the center were the lines were not present. However, when turned over, the underside lines are tiny bumps that radiate inward towards the bell center. Over my more than 3 years of medusozoan research, I am fairly confident this is not an onshore species, however, I have never come across such a species in my research. Could you identify this species, please? Also the sea nettle is not exactly a sea nettle. I found an image from beachhunter.net that was nearly identical to my medusa. I will not use the picture out of respect. I have seen it before, but I do not think it may be a differing member of Chrysaora. I have preserved both.
Comments
Thanks for all the
Thanks for all the interesting reports. I think we'd have to see a picture of the Aequorea-like species to figure it out. Orchistoma, Halitrephes, and others look similar, but with other distinguishing features.
I will send you a picture as
In reply to Thanks for all the by jellywatch
I will send you a picture as soon as possible, thanks for the feedback. I researched the species, and I still don't know! I also looked at Ernest Haeckel's paintings, and some of them looked similar, however I could not distinguish them for sure.
Mr. Eric Heupel on Flickr has
Mr. Eric Heupel on Flickr has an image of a mesoglea that is very similar, if not identical to the medusa I have seen. Unusually, they have vanished and sea nettles have become present. I have no idea if they will reappear but the link to the image is below my text, if you could check it out I would appreciate it, I hope you can tell what it is!
Notice the rib-like features that actually separate into small dots.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eclectic-echoes/2744719735/
I have identified this
I have identified this species Aequorea.