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     Aequorea sp. (Peron & Lesueur, 1810)             
                                    
                    
                   Katie Maling ~ 2013

Fact Sheet

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Overview

Introduction


Economic Importance


Physical Description

Size


Ecology

Local Occurrence


Global Distribution


Crypsis


Life History & Behaviour

Life Cycle & Reproduction


Locomotion


Feeding (Report)


Anatomy & Physiology

Nervous System


Musculature


Respiration, Circulation & Excretion


Evolution & Systematics

Systematics


Conservation & Threats

Conservation


Threats


References


​INTRODUCTION

Aequorea
sp. is classified as a Leptothecatae (L-form) hydrozoan (Ruppert et al., 2004). This individual was unable to be classified to a species level. Therefore, as per its known classification, Aequorea sp. exhibits the following characteristics:
  • Gastrodermal canals absent in the hydrozoan vellum
  • A cross-striated coronal muscle in the vellum
  • A tubular manubrium that hangs below the centre of the bell, under the stomach
  • The presence of a theca in then hydroid stage of the life cycle
  • The flow of internal fluid around the body follows the path of manubrial canal to the stomach to four radial canals and into the ring canal
The number of radial canals in hydrozoans varies from one species to the next, however individuals within the Aequorea genus have many more than average (Ruppert et al., 2004). 

Aequorea sp. was observed to be blue in colour, allowing it to blend in well with the surrounding water. Forty tentacles were counted on Aequorea sp., however, this cannot be used as a distinguishing feature due to the fact that it was not known whether it was a juvenile or an adult. It should also be noted that while Aequorea sp. did indeed have nematocysts, they did not appear to have an effect on humans. 


It was found that Aequorea sp. was inside-out. This is a process known as jellyfish eversion syndrome and it is found to occur only in captivity (Freeman et al., 2009). Due to its rather unusual orientation, Aequorea sp. was observed to exhibit a very strange feeding behaviour. For further information, jump to: Feeding.



Classification

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