''Haliclystus auricula'' is a
stalked jellyfish
Stauromedusae are the stalked jellyfishes. They are the sole living members of the class Staurozoa and belong to the medusozoa subphylum of Cnidaria. They are unique among medusa jellyfish in that they do not have an alternation of polyp and m ...
found in the Northern hemisphere. It is the
type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen( ...
for its genus.
Name
In 2010,
Natural England
Natural England is a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. It is responsible for ensuring that England's natural environment, including its land, flora and fauna ...
, ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide ...
'' and the
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum or OUMNH, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It ...
ran a competition asking members of the public to provide a common name for this species. The name "Kaleidoscope Jellyfish," submitted by Kepler Petzall, was eventually chosen.
Runner-up names included Fractal flower jellyfish and Mermaid's trumpet jellyfish.
Description
''H. auricula'' is 2-2.5 cm tall with the stalk accounting for half of the height of the organism. The remainder of the organism is shaped like a funnel, the colour of which varies across the species from grey/green to red/brown. It has eight arms which radiate out from a central mouth. Each arm is tipped by clusters of up to 100 tentacles and connected by a thin membrane. Primary tentacles known as anchors are located on the membrane margin between the arms. The kidney-shape of these appendages is a key distinguishing feature of this species.
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]
Distribution
''H. auricula'' is one of ten species of ''Haliclystus'' found in the Northern hemisphere. It is very sensitive to pollution. The populations along the British coastline are in decline.[ Distribution includes the Shetland Isles, Orkney, western coast of England, Scotland and Ireland.
]
Habitat
This species lives in shallow water that has adequate circulation on marine eelgrass and other algae.[Collins, Allen G. (2010). ''Haliclystus auricula'' (Rathke, 1806). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species a]
http://www.marinespecies.eu/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=135322
on 2010-08-01 Depths they are found in range from mid-eulittoral to shallow sublittoral. ''H. auricula'' is able to move location by attaching a specialised tentacle to the substrate as an anchor, detaching its base and 'cartwheeling' into the new position.
Lifecycle
This species reproduces by sexual means. ''H. auricula'' is most abundant in a given location in midsummer.[ Diet consists of benthic species, primarily crustaceans.]
References
External links
''Haliclystus auricula'' entry on the Marine Life Information Network
''Haliclystus auricula'' entry on WoRMS
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1909275
Haliclystidae
Animals described in 1806