Haliclystus auricula

Haliclystus auricula is a stalked jellyfish found in the Northern hemisphere. It is the type species for its genus.

Haliclystus auricula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Staurozoa
Order: Stauromedusae
Family: Haliclystidae
Genus: Haliclystus
Species:
H. auricula
Binomial name
Haliclystus auricula
Rathke, 1806
Synonyms
  • Lucernaria auricula

Name

In 2010, Natural England, The Guardian and the Oxford University Museum of Natural History ran a competition asking members of the public to provide a common name for this species. The name "Kaleidoscope Jellyfish," submitted by Kepler Petzall, was eventually chosen.[1] Runner-up names included Fractal flower jellyfish and Mermaid's trumpet jellyfish.[1]

Description

H. auricula is 2-2.5 cm tall with the stalk accounting for half of the height of the organism. The remainder of the organism is shaped like a funnel, the colour of which varies across the species from grey/green to red/brown. It has eight arms which radiate out from a central mouth. Each arm is tipped by clusters of up to 100 tentacles and connected by a thin membrane. Primary tentacles known as anchors are located on the membrane margin between the arms. The kidney-shape of these appendages is a key distinguishing feature of this species.[2]

Distribution

H. auricula is one of ten species of Haliclystus found in the Northern hemisphere.[3] It is very sensitive to pollution. The populations along the British coastline are in decline.[4]

Habitat

This species lives in shallow water that has adequate circulation on marine eelgrass and other algae.[2] H. auricula is able to move location by attaching a specialised tentacle to the substrate as an anchor, detaching its base and 'cartwheeling' into the new position.[4]

Lifecycle

This species reproduces by sexual means. H. auricula is most abundant in a given location in midsummer.[5] Like all stalked jellyfish, a single H. auricula individual is believed to live for only one year.[5]

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References
  1. "Natural England - Haliclystus auricula - Kaleidoscope jellyfish". Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
  2. Collins, Allen G. (2010). Haliclystus auricula (Rathke, 1806). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.eu/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=135322 on 2010-08-01
  3. Miranda, Lucília S.; Morandini, André C.; Marques, Antonio C. (2009). "Taxonomic review of Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 (Stauromedusae, Staurozoa, Cnidaria), with remarks on the genus Haliclystus Clark, 1863". Polar Biology. 32 (10): 1507. doi:10.1007/s00300-009-0648-8.
  4. "The beautiful, coral-like jellyfish: Haliclystus auricula". Guardian. 25 June 2010.
  5. Corbin, P. G. (1979). "The seasonal abundance of four species of Stauromedusae (Coelenterata: Scyphomedusae) at Plymouth". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 59 (2): 385–391. doi:10.1017/S0025315400042697.
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