OBSERVATIONS ON THE BIOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF STAUROCLADIA PORTMANNI SP. N. (ANTHOMEDUSAE, ELEUTHERIDAE)

A new species of Anthomedusae, Staurocladia portmanni sp. n. (Anthomedusae, Eleutheridae), is described. The medusa and hydroid stages were collected from the sea and cultivated in the laboratory. Location: Gulf of Naples, Italy. The medusa differs from other species of the genus Staurocladia in possessing two additional lateral cnidocyst bulbs on the main branch of the tentacles, cnidocyst bulbs around the mouth, and protuberances of the radial canals into the exumbrella. The hydroid differs from other species of the genus Staurocladia only in having less medusae buds per polyp. The medusa is found at a depth of 15 to 30 m in Posidonia beds; the hydroid at a depth of 30 m in algae material of Halimeda sp. and Udothea sp.