Stalked trumpet jelly

The stalked trumpet jelly (Depastromorpha africana), is a species of stalked jellyfish in the family Depastridae. It is the only member of the genus Depastromorpha.

Stalked trumpet jelly
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Staurozoa
Order:	Stauromedusae
Family:	Haliclystidae
Genus:	Depastromorpha Carlgren, 1935
Species:	D. africana
Binomial name
Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935[1]

Description

This small stalked jellyfish grows up to 2 cm in height and may be pale to reddish in colour. It has a wrinkled body column and multiple stalked tentacles with knobbed ends surrounding the mouth.^[2]

Distribution

This species has been found only around the South African coast from the Cape Peninsula to Hermanus from the shore to shallow subtidal. It is possibly endemic to this region.

Ecology

This stalked jelly is usually found on seaweeds, particularly Caulerpa filiformis.^[3]

References

1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Depastromorpha africana Carlgren, 1935". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
2. Jones, Georgina. A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula. SURG, Cape Town, 2008. ISBN 978-0-620-41639-9
3. Day J.H, Field, J.G. & Penrith M.J. 1970. The Benthic Fauna and Fishes of False Bay, South Africa. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr, 34(1):1-108