Download Medusa boca de bandera (Chrysaora quinquecirrha)

Medusa boca de bandera (Chrysaora
quinquecirrha)
N omb res comu n es: Ortiga de mar (Español)
Si n ón i mos: Pelagia quinquecirrha, Dactylometra quinquecirrha, Dactylometra africana
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Foto: (c) Manuel Alberto Rosado Luna / Banco de Imágenes CONABIO, algunos derechos reservados (CC
BY-NC-ND)
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Distribution 1,2
Chrysaora quinquecirrha (Desor, 1848), commonly known as the Atlantic sea nettle or East Coast sea
nettle, is broadly dispersed in tepid waters along the coasts of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well
as the Western Pacific. Along the United States east coast this species is common to abundant from
southern New England to as far south as Brazil. In Virginia waters these jellies first appear in May, and
usually vanish around September, though some occasionally remain well into November.
Bi ogeograp h i c R egi on s: indian ocean; atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Introduced )
Morphology 1,2
The body of Chrysaora quinquecirrha is mainly composed of an outer epidermis cup, an inner
gastrodermis layer, and tentacles. Along the outside of the rim of the umbrella cup are long, skinny
tentacles, which may grow up to 50 centimeters. The dome-shaped body of the jellyfish is approximately
25 centimeters in width, and has 8 scalloped, flower-petal shaped lobes from which tentacles extend.
Each octant bears around 7 to 10 tentacles, all of which are lined with nematocysts (specialized stinging
organelles). Four long, ribbon-like oral arms extend from the middle of the umbrella. The arms bring
food up to the mouth, which is the only opening comprising the digestive system. This opening is lined
with thousands of small mouthlet pores. The adult Atlantic sea nettle’s body is an opaque white color,
often with red streaks or dots visible through the cup and tentacles. The life of C. quinquecirrha is
dominated by two main cycles, each with a distinct body plan. First, the jellyfish live as a sessile polyp,
then as a mobile medusa. The polyp stage is characterized by strobilation, in which the segmented
polyp asexually produces young medusa. The medusa is the second stage of the life cycle.
Average l en gth : 50 cm.
Average wi n gsp an : 25 cm.
Oth er Ph ysi cal Featu res: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; radial symmetry ; polymorphic ; venomous
Sexu al Di morp h i sm: sexes alike
Description 3,4
Width to 25 cm. Bell surface with fine warts. Four separate mouth-arms, up to 50 cm long, with frilled
edges. Bell divided into eight sections (octants); each octant with two notched, tongue-shaped lappets,
three main tentacles and a minor one either side (thus five, hence the species name). Bell colour varies
from transparent to bluish, pink, yellow or brown, maybe reddish streaked radially. Under-bell may be
white; mouth arms pink to yellow with red speckles. Habitat: coastal. Distribution: Indo-Pacific, also
Atlantic (Richmond, 1997).
Habitat
Depth range based on 8 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 2 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0.5 - 46
Temperature range (°C): 23.636 - 23.636
Nitrate (umol/L): 0.325 - 0.325
Salinity (PPS): 35.785 - 35.785
Oxygen (ml/l): 4.855 - 4.855
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.110 - 0.110
Silicate (umol/l): 0.756 - 0.756
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 0.5 - 46
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
Trophic strategy 1,2
Atlantic sea nettles are carnivorous. The diet consists of zooplankton, ctenophores, as well as other
jellies. Plankton (microscopic plants and animals drifting in the water) predominate the dietary regimen
of the jelly. They tend to also prey upon small crustaceans, comb jellies, and fish eggs and larvae.
Nettles also consume young minnows, bay anchovy eggs, worms, and mosquito larvae. Due to the large
variety of prey, combined with their highly effective hunting style, C. quinquecirrha seldom goes
without something to eat.
An i mal Food s: fish; eggs; aquatic or marine worms; aquatic crustaceans; cnidarians; zooplankton
Pri mary Di et: carnivore (Piscivore , Eats eggs, Eats non-insect arthropods, Vermivore, Eats other marine
invertebrates); planktivore
Associations 1,2
The scyphomedusae blooms of Chrysaora quinquecirrha effect the aquatic ecosystem they inhabit.
Because it effects trophic interactions within the food chain and the distribution of nutrients, it is
considered a keystone species. Feeding on ctenophores, C. quinquecirrha eliminates the main predator
of copepods, thus positively influencing their abundance. Not only does a higher concentration of
copepods benefit planktonic populations, it also benefits fish species that prey on plankton. When
these gelatinous creatures die, their bodies collect on the underwater sediment and through
decomposition contribute to the carbon cycle. Though these bodies contribute to the carbon cycle, they
also contribute to the successful increase of bacteria growth.
Ecosystem Imp act: keystone species
Behaviour 1,2
Little information is known about communication in Chrysaora quinquecirrha, though it appears to be a
colonial species. Some scyphozoans release and react to chemicals in the water during breeding
seasons. Due to limited material on cnidarian nervous systems, how these chemicals are interpreted
remains unclear. Scyphozoan nervous systems are usually comprised of a scattered net of cells, while
some species display more organized nerve rings. In those species where nerve rings appear to be
nonexistent the nerve cells form structures called rhopallia, arranged around the rim of the umbrella.
Rhopalliums are typically associated with a pair of sensory pits, a balance organ for orientation, and
sometimes pigment-cupped ocelli, or “eye spots.”
Commonly these eye-like structures are found in the medusa stage, even though polyps from all
cnidarian classes are defined as light-sensitive. Photoreceptors of jellyfish are classified as the ciliary
type, meaning one or more adapted cilia form the photoreceptive structure. Rhabdomeric
photoreceptors are found in other invertebrate groups, whereas ciliary types are normally found in
vertebrate eyes. Therefore, the photoreceptors of cnidarians may belong to the same evolutionary line
as those of vertebrates. Extra ocular photosensitivity is prevalent throughout the cnidarians, with
neurons, epithelial cells, and muscle cells facilitating light detection.
Oth er Commu n i cati on M od es: pheromones
Percep ti on Ch an n el s: polarized light ; tactile ; chemical
Life cycle 1,2
Chrysaora quinquecirrha has two different body forms during its life cycle. The first form is a polypoid
stage, where the organism is a small and sessile stalk, generally only millimeters long. Tentacles
facilitate feeding. The polyp may either remain sessile, resembling coral and sea anemones, or it may
be free-floating. Due to the polyp’s ability to bud asexually, it can either remain solitary or be colonial.
Polyp strobilation, or budding, may lead to the appearance of ephyra, which are small, immature jellies.
From ephyra to adult medusa, C. quinquecirrha has six different stages. These stages are categorized
by the change in morphological structure. Two stages involve the growth of the ephyra, while the other
four stages are for medusa development. The first four stages seen in species growth have been
reproduced in the laboratory, while the last two stages have been recorded from nature. Stage I
consists of newly-liberated ephyra, from polyps, which average between two to three and a half
millimeters wide from lappet-tip to lappet-tip across the tiny medusa. Stage II is characterized by the
presence of primary tentacles, and the development of the oral arms. As the medusa enters stage III,
the lappets tend to fold under the medusa, thereby reducing its resemblance to its ephyra stage. Stage
IV development is noted by the appearance of secondary tentacles between the primary tentacles.
Stage V introduces the growth of 16 tertiary tentacles in the medusa. At this point there are 40
tentacles, and 48 lappets. The last stage, stage VI, is when the medusa has grown to a size of seven or
more tentacles and eight or more lappets per octant. As previously mentioned, these last two stages
have not been successfully reproduced in the lab, but research has shown that tentacle numbers in
adult medusa vary, and are not a dependable taxonomic character in this group of Schyphozoa.
Devel op men t - Li fe Cycl e: metamorphosis ; colonial growth
Life expectancy 1,2
The lifespan of this species is unknown.
Reproduction 1,2
What attacts or induces the Atlantic sea nettle to reproduce is known. This species reproduces both
sexually and asexually.
M ati n g System: polygynandrous (promiscuous)
In their polyp form, Chrysaora quinquecirrha reproduces asexually. This is done through a variety of
ways: strobilation, cyst production, and by changing polyp position through the use of stolons. Medusae
are able to reproduce sexually. Females catch the sperm released into the water from the mouths of the
males. The eggs, which are also held in the mouth, become fertilized, and remain attached to the
female's oral arms. As the fertilized eggs develop, they grow into planula. These planula have a
flattened, bean shape. Once the polyps develop fully into flower-shaped progeny, they are released into
the ocean where they settle, and begin asexual reproduction. The polyp buds to produce identical
copies of themselves, and eventually detach to be released into the ocean where it will undergo
metamorphosis to the medusa stage.
Breed i n g season : This species breeds during the summer months.
R an ge ti me to i n d ep en d en ce: 15 (low) hours.
Average ti me to i n d ep en d en ce: 20 hours.
K ey R ep rod u cti ve Featu res: seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes
separate); sexual ; asexual ; fertilization (Internal ); broadcast (group) spawning; ovoviviparous
Fertilized eggs will remain attached to the female parent's oral arms. The eggs into planula on the
arms. Once the polyps develop fully into flower-shaped progeny, they are released into the ocean where
they settle.
Paren tal In vestmen t: no parental involvement; altricial ; female parental care ; pre-fertilization
(Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Female); pre-weaning/fledging (Protecting: Female);
pre-independence (Protecting: Female)
Barcode data: chrysaora quinquecirrha 5
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this
species.
No available public DNA sequences.
Download FASTA File
Conservation status 1,2
Chrysaora quinquecirrha populations are not under consideration for conservation status.
US Fed eral Li st: no special status
CITES: no special status
State of M i ch i gan Li st: no special status
Uses 1,2
Blooms of Chrysaora quinquecirrha negatively impact humans. Economically, these large masses of
jellies deter swimmers, beach goers, and tourists from entering the water. If one comes in physical
contact with the Atlantic sea nettle, thousands of stinging nematocysts on tentacles penetrate toxins
into the skin, causing a painful rash.
N egati ve Imp acts: injures humans (bites or stings, venomous )
References
1. Lanier, N. 2011. "Chrysaora quinquecirrha" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27,
2013 at
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Chrysaora_quinquecirrha.html
2. © The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors, some rights reserved
3. Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian
Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91630-4594-X. 448 pp. UNESCO-IOC Register of Marine Organisms
4. © WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved
5. © Barcode of Life Data Systems, some rights reserved