trachymedusa

Trachymedusae have the margin of their umbrella entire and not divided into lobes, have a thickened marginal nematocyst ring, have radial canals with their gonads usually confined to those radial canals, and have solid or both solid and hollow marginal tentacles [1].

Gelatinous carnivores are a predominant and sometimes the main component of the macroplankton and nekton community in the Southern Ocean [2]. Gelatinous carnivores are important components of the food web because they are a control mechanism for its structure [3].

1: Guide to the Hydromedusae of the Southern Ocean and Adjacent Waters. D O'Sullivan. ANARE Research Notes 5 (Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition). Kingston, Tasmania, Australia: Australia Dept of Science and Technology, Antarctic Division, 1984; 2: Annales de l'Institut Oceanographique 73(2):139-158, 1997; 3: Annales de l'Institut Oceanographique 73(2):123-124, 1997

Text ©Peter Brueggeman. Photograph ©Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan). Photograph may not be used in any form without the express written permission of Canadian Museum of Nature (Kathleen Conlan).