''Chrysaora'' () is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
jellyfish
Jellyfish, also known as sea jellies or simply jellies, are the #Life cycle, medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the subphylum Medusozoa, which is a major part of the phylum Cnidaria. Jellyfish are mainly free-swimming marine animal ...
, commonly called the sea nettles, in the
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
Pelagiidae
The Pelagiidae are a family of jellyfish. Members of the family ''Pelagiidae'' have no ring canal, and the marginal tentacles arise from umbrella margin.
Genera
There are four genera currently recognized:
*Genus '' Chrysaora'' – (14 species)
...
.
The origin of the genus name ''Chrysaora'' lies in Greek mythology with
Chrysaor
In Greek mythology, Chrysaor (, gen. ), "he who has a golden sword" (from "golden" and "sword"]) was the brother of the winged horse Pegasus, often depicted as a young man, the son of Poseidon and Medusa, born when Perseus decapitated the Gorg ...
, brother of
Pegasus
Pegasus (; ) is a winged horse in Greek mythology, usually depicted as a white stallion. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. Pegasus was the brother of Chrysaor, both born from Medusa's blood w ...
and son of
Poseidon
Poseidon (; ) is one of the twelve Olympians in ancient Greek religion and mythology, presiding over the sea, storms, earthquakes and horses.Burkert 1985pp. 136–139 He was the protector of seafarers and the guardian of many Hellenic cit ...
and
Medusa
In Greek mythology, Medusa (; ), also called Gorgo () or the Gorgon, was one of the three Gorgons. Medusa is generally described as a woman with living snakes in place of hair; her appearance was so hideous that anyone who looked upon her wa ...
. Translated, ''Chrysaor'' means "he who has a golden armament."
Species
There are 16 recognized species in the genus ''Chrysaora'':
* ''
Chrysaora achlyos'' – black sea nettle
* ''
Chrysaora africana'' - Southern African Sea Nettle
* ''
Chrysaora agulhensis'' - Agulhas Sea Nettle
* ''
Chrysaora chesapeakei'' - bay nettle
* ''
Chrysaora chinensis''
* ''
Chrysaora colorata'' – purple-striped jelly
* ''
Chrysaora fulgida'' - Benguela Compass Jelly
* ''
Chrysaora fuscescens
''Chrysaora fuscescens'', the Pacific sea nettle or West Coast sea nettle, is a widespread planktonic scyphozoan cnidarian—or ''medusa'', "jellyfish" or "jelly"—that lives in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, in temperate to cooler waters off ...
'' – Pacific sea nettle
* ''
Chrysaora helvola''
* ''
Chrysaora hysoscella'' – compass jellyfish
* ''
Chrysaora lactea'' - Milk Sea Nettle
* ''
Chrysaora melanaster
''Chrysaora melanaster'', commonly known as the northern sea nettle or brown jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish native to the northern Pacific Ocean and adjacent parts of the Arctic Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as a Pacific sea nettle, ...
'' – northern sea nettle
* ''
Chrysaora pacifica'' – Japanese sea nettle
* ''
Chrysaora pentastoma'' -Australian Sea Nettle
* ''
Chrysaora plocamia'' – South American sea nettle
* ''
Chrysaora quinquecirrha
The Atlantic sea nettle (''Chrysaora quinquecirrha''), also called the East Coast sea nettle in the United States, is a species of jellyfish that inhabits the Atlantic coast of the United States. Historically it was confused with several '' C ...
'' – Atlantic sea nettle
Invalid species names
*''Chrysaora blossevillei''
Lesson 1830 omen dubium*''Chrysaora caliparea''
(Reynaud 1830) pecies inquirendaref name="MM2010">
*''Chrysaora depressa''
(Kishinouye 1902) ccepted as ''Chrysaora melanaster'' Brandt 1838*''Chrysaora kynthia''
Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 omen dubiumref name="MM2010" />
*''Chrysaora southcotti''
Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 ccepted as ''Chrysaora pentastoma'' Péron & Lesueur, 1810ref name="MM2010" />
*''Chrysaora wurlerra''
Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 omen dubiumref name="MM2010" />
References
Cnidarian genera
Pelagiidae
{{Scyphozoa-stub