Morbakka fenneri
| Morbakka fenneri | ||||||||||||
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Morbakka | ||||||||||||
| Gershwin , 2008 | ||||||||||||
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| Morbakka fenneri | ||||||||||||
| Gershwin , 2008 |
Morbakka fenneri is a species of jellyfish from the class of box jellyfish ( Cubozoa ) within the cnidarians ( Cnidaria ). It occurs mainly in the Australian coastal waters off Queensland . So far it is the only species of the genus Morbakka Gershwin, 2008. Morbakka fenneri is one of the species whose "sting"can trigger Irukandji syndrome in humans.
History of exploration
This relatively large species of jellyfish was known to scientists and divers 20 years before it was first described and was alternately called "Morbakka", "Tamoya" or simply "Fire jellyfish". A first, albeit not taxonomic, description comes from Ronald Vernon Southcott in 1985, who calls it the common name "Morbakka". The common name "Morbakka" is an art form from "Moreton Bay carybdeid". Peter Fenner later described the jellyfish in several papers, which, however, focused on the poisoning ( Irukandji syndrome ) and its effects on humans. It was not until 2008 that Lisa-Ann Gershwin published the first formally valid description and named it Morbakka fenneri . To avoid confusion between the earlier non-taxonomic works and the formal taxonomic naming, she adopted the common name Morbakka as a generic name. The species name fenneri was given to honor Prof. Peter Fenner, who has published many papers in the field of marine stinger research .
features
Morbakka fenneri is a relatively large species of jellyfish with a length or height of about 110 mm and an umbrella diameter of about 55 mm. The body is relatively large for jellyfish, robust and has wart-like elevations on the upper side, which are colored light pink. There are four pedalia . The tentacles are relatively flat and wide, more like ribbon. In living animals, they are colored pink. They contain three types of nematocysts : club-shaped microbasic p- mastigophores (type 4), 60 to 70 μm long and 13 to 18 μm in diameter, and two types of large oval isorhiza . The umbrella warts also carry two different types of nematocysts, rounded and oval isorhizas. The relatively wide velarium has pronounced lobes. The manubrium (mouth tube) reaches about half the height of the umbrella. The mouth is surrounded by four well-developed triangular lips. The Rhopalia are relatively long, elongated and "rabbit-eared". A "thorn" sits in the bend of the pedal canal. In Gastralraum the gastric missing Phacellae , the z. B. are diagnostic of the genus Tamoya . So far there is no information on behavior, the life cycle or the predator-prey ratio.
distribution
Morbakka fenneri was first in Moreton Bay ( Queensland found). It is also found in the Stradbroke Islands . In MacKay (Queensland) around two to three animals are caught each year. Some specimens have also been caught off Port Douglas or Cairns . Further specimens were collected off Townsville . A somewhat smaller form occurs on the coast of New South Wales from Coffs Harbor to the height of Sydney . So the species is rather rare.
Systematics
Morbakka fenneri is currently the only form of the genus Morbakka that has been formally described . However, compared to the typical Morbakka fenneri from Moreton Bay , the author describes a very similar but somewhat larger form of North Queensland and a somewhat smaller form of New South Wales . However, these forms are so far only poorly known. It is therefore entirely possible that other types of Morbakka exist.
Irukandji Syndrome and Treatment
The sting of this type can trigger symptoms very similar to Irukandji syndrome . Stings from Morbakka fenneri , like other box jellyfish species, are best avoided if bathers wear diving or surfing suits .
literature
- Lisa-Ann Gershwin: Morbakka fenneri, a new genus and species of Irukandji jellyfish (Cnidaria: Cubozoa). In: PIF Davie and JA Phillips (Eds.): Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Marine Biological Workshop, The Marine Fauna and Flora of Moreton Bay, Queensland. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum - Nature, 54 (1): 23-33, Brisbane. ISSN 0079-8835
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Types of nematocysts ( Memento of the original from June 24, 2010 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
