[Cnidaria] identification

[Vervoort, W.]

Dear Dr La Spade,

 

This is most likely a specimen of Physalia physalis (Linnaeus, 1758); it is considered to be rare in the Mediterranean (cf. J. Bouillon et al., 2004, Scientia Marina, 68, suppl. 2: 209, figs 121B-D). The name Physalia utriculus (La Martinière, 1787) is generally applied to Pacific representatives of the genus Physalia but the existence of two species of Physalia is somewhat debated, though recent research on the nematocysts of Atlantic Physalia seems to support the notion that two species are present (Bardi, J. & A.C. Marques, 2007, Iheringia, Zool., 97(4)).

 

Sincerely,

 

W. Vervoort

 

Van: cnidaria-bounces at uci.edu [mailto:cnidaria-bounces at uci.edu] Namens glaspada at unime.it
Verzonden: maandag 30 maart 2009 13:28
Aan: cnidaria at uci.edu
Onderwerp: [Cnidaria] identification

 

Hi,

I am Giuseppina La Spada and I am a physiologist of University of Messina (Italy) interested for a long a time to nematocysts and nematocytes physiology with peculiar regard to specimens of Strait of Messina: Pelagia noctiluca (Scyphozoa) and Aiptasia mutabilis (Anthozoa).

Some students found a specimen of Physalia shored here in the Strait of Messina. The picture is here attached. Is it Physialia physalis or Physalia utriculus or whatever? I would be grateful if You could help me in the identification. It is the first time that such specimen is found in the Strait of Messina!

Thank You!

Please let me know about it.
Sincerely

Giuseppina La Spada


Associate professor 
Department of Life Sciences "M. Malpighi" 
Section of General Physiology and Pharmacology 
Salita Sperone 31 
Messina, Italy 
Tel. +39 090 6765209 
Fax. +39 090 394030 
E-mail. glaspada at unime.it

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