Early Life History of Alatina cf. moseri Populations from Australia and Hawaii with Implications for Taxonomy (Cubozoa: Carybdeida, Alatinidae)

Abstract

The early life stages of the cubomedusa Alatina cf. moseri from Osprey Reef (North Queensland, Australia) and Waikiki (Oahu, Hawaii) were studied using laboratory-based culturing conditions. Spawning populations from both regions were observed with reliable periodicity allowing polyp cultures from these locations to be collected and established under laboratory conditions. The polyps of this species were successfully reared from spawning adults. Polyps of Alatina cf. moseri were cultured at temperatures of 23–28°C, developed up to 19 tentacles and reached up to 1.70 mm in height. The balloon-shaped hypostomes possessed 4 well-defined lips. The polyps increased their numbers by means of formation of either sedentary polyp buds or creeping-polyp buds, which attached after 2–3 days. Metamorphosis occurred at temperatures of 25–28°C. Development of polyps and medusae were achieved for the first time within the genus Alatina and allowed comparisons of early life history between these and other species of the Carybdeida families. The metamorphosis and young medusa of this genus showed characters that differed distinctly from those noted for other Carybdeida species, but are very similar to the one described from Puerto Rico by Arneson and Cutress in 1976 for Alatina sp. (named by them Carybdea alata). Based on this evidence, the discrepancies in original specimen descriptions and the previous genetic comparisons, we support the suggestion that the two previously described species of Alatina from Australia and Hawaii (Alatina mordens and Alatina moseri) appear to represent artificial taxonomic units and may in fact be the same as the original Carybdea alata species named from Puerto Rico. Further taxonomic studies are desperately needed in order to clarify the various species and description discrepancies that exist within this newly proposed genus.

Box JellyfishAlatina alataHas a Circumtropical Distribution

“…A sometimes overlooked life stage present in some medusozoans is the podocyst, a resting stage produced by polyps. Podocysts are essentially polyp-derived tissues encysted in a protective layer of perisarc, and are able to withstand extreme salinity changes and desiccation, sometimes for years (Dumont, 1994; Ikeda et al, 2011; Carrette et al, 2014). …”

“…In several tropical to subtropical localities, species of the box jellyfish genus Alatina display monthly nearshore aggregations (Thomas et al , 2001; Chiaverano et al , 2013; Lewis et al , 2013; Carrette et al , 2014). Unlike typical jellyfish blooms, which consist of sudden, and often unpredictable, increases in single-species biomass linked to environmental conditions (Condon et al , 2013; Dawson et al , 2014), Alatina swarms are directly correlated with reproductive events related to the lunar cycle; mating aggregations occur 8 to 10 days after the full moon ( Alatina moseri Mayer 1906 in Hawaii, A. mordens Gershwin 2005 in Australia, and A. alata (Reynaud, 1830) in Bonaire, the Netherlands).…”

Rediscovery and description of the cubomedusa <i>Alatina grandis</i> (Agassiz & Mayer, 1902) (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Alatinidae) from Pakistani waters

“…in the Pacific (Hawaii, Australia, New Guinea) (Lewis et al 2013, Carrette et al 2014, specimens inspected for this study), in the western and south eastern Atlantic (Pagès et al 1992, Collins et al 2011, specimen inspected for this study) and the Indian Ocean (specimen from India inspected for this study).…”

“…de). But besides this, the group also presents other interesting aspects, like courtship (Lewis & Long 2005, Lewis et al 2008, Garm et al 2012, Chiaverano et al 2013, Canepa et al 2014, Carrette et al 2014, vision (Coates 2003, Nordström et al 2003, Nilsson et al 2005, Garm et al 2006, 2007a+b, 2008, Garm & Bielecki 2008 and taxonomic classification (Bigelow 1938, Werner 1973, Gershwin 2005b, 2006, Straehler-Pohl 2014, Toshino et al 2013. Also the validity of some species, especially the ones of the alatinid family, has been discussed since the beginning of the last century (Mayer 1910, Bigelow 1938, Kramp 1961, Gershwin 2005a, b, Bentlage 2010, Lewis et al 2013.…”

<i>Carybdea morandinii</i>—New investigations on its life cycle reveal its true genus: <i>Carybdea morandinii</i> Straehler-Pohl & Jarms, 2011 becomes <i>Alatina morandinii</i> (Straehler-Pohl & Jarms, 2011)

“…The early life history of the species was traced from polyp to young medusa. Morphological characters were then compared with the few existing accounts of polyps, young medusae, and metamorphic phases of cubozoan species (Werner et al 1971, Studebaker 1972, Cutress & Studebaker 1973, Straehler-Pohl 2001, 2009, Straehler-Pohl & Jarms 2005, Toshino et al 2013, 2014, 2015, Carrette et al 2014, namely those of Alatina moseri (Mayer 1906), Tripedalia cystophora Conant, 1897, Copula sivickisi (Stiasny 1926), snf Carybdea sp. (= Carybdea marsupialis ) from Puerto Rico and Morbakka virulenta (Kishinouye 1910).…”