Calvadosia campanulata

Stauromedusae UK - An online guide to the Stalked jellyfish (Stauromedusae)
found around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Includes notes on their identification, and where and how to find them.

Species Account for Calvadosia campanulata (Lamouroux, 1815)
Calvadosia campanulata (Lamouroux, 1815)

Alternative representation - Lucernaria campanulata, Lucernariopsis campanulata.
Junior synonym - Lucernaria discoidea Eales, 1938 (External Link to PDF file)

N.B. Recent name change from Lucernariopsis campanulata (Lamouroux, 1815) ref. Systematics of stalked jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Staurozoa) Lucılia S. Miranda, Yayoi M. Hirano, Claudia E. Mills, Audrey Falconer, David Fenwick, Antonio C. Marques and Allen G. Collins. 2016.

WoRMS taxon details for -
Calvadosia campanulata (Lamouroux, 1815) - External Link

Lateral view of Calvadosia campanulata

Brief Description

- Calyx, funnel shaped.
- No anchors (primary tentacles) as occur in Haliclystus, with which this species has been confused.
- Oral face to 30mm diameter, 30-40(-45) mm high including the stalk (peduncle).
- Calyx about as wide as high, stalk (peduncle) of similar length to calyx, being reported as both longer and shorter.
- Long equidistant arms, with equally developed perradii and interradii.
- 30-45 tentacles in each tentacle clusters per arm.
- Aboral surface papillated, visually giving the bell a granular or grainy appearance. Perhaps best seen on aboral surface in lateral view; and between arms in oral view.
- 1-4 turquoise, pale turquoise or white spots, set deeply in the four interradial funnels.
- Manubrium (mouth) takes the colour of the bell colour.

N.B Less likely to be confused with Calvadosia cruxmelitensis away from SW coasts. See Species Account for Calvadosia cruxmelitensis.

A medium sized bell-shaped species that is variable in colour. Red, brown and olive-green coloured forms have been observed, all being uniformly coloured. The red form has either two large white spots or two large turquiose spots, on four of its sides, these occur at the base of the four interradial funnels. The olive-green form commonly having two turquoise spots. It must be noted, the size of these spots is variable and the turquoise colour may be quite pale and almost white in some specimens. On examining the bell closely, it can be seen to be distinctly "papillated" on its aboral surface, giving the bell a granular appearance. This can be best observed on the outer edges of the stalk and side of the bell when the bell is viewed laterally, as seen in the image here; and between the gonads when the bell is viewed orally. Papillation is typical for this species and separates it from other UK species. All colour forms can occur together.

Comparison shot with Calvadosia cruxmelitensis

SPECIES PAGES FOR 2007 UK BAP PRIORITY SPECIES
PDF File - By kind permission of the JNCC.
Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Calvadosia campanulata is also a Northern Ireland Priority Species.

Images of Calvadosia campanulata

A really good example of an un-pigmented Calvadosia campanulata found in Thanet by Kent Wildlife Trust.
Image copyright Kent Wildlife Trust.

Below: A selection of larger images (1200 x 900), chosen to best display the species. Images taken at various locations in Cornwall in August / September 2012. All images ©David Fenwick.

1. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red, mature specimen. Albert Pier Reef, Penzance, Cornwall. 04.09.12.

2. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red, mature specimen. Albert Pier Reef, Penzance, Cornwall. 04.09.12.

3. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red and olive-brown, mature specimens. Albert Pier Reef, Penzance, Cornwall. 04.09.12.

4. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of olive-brown,
mature specimen. Albert Pier Reef, Penzance, Cornwall. 04.09.12.

5. Calvadosia campanulata. Oral view of red, mature specimen. Albert Pier Reef, Penzance, Cornwall. 04.09.12.

6. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red, mature specimen. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 14.10.12.

7. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of brown, mature specimen. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 14.10.12.

8. Calvadosia campanulata. Oral view of red, mature specimen. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 31.08.12.

9. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red, mature specimen. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 31.08.12.

10. Calvadosia campanulata. Lateral view of red, mature specimen. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 31.08.12.

11. Calvadosia campanulata. Mature specimen on Sargassum muticum. Battery Rocks, Penzance, Cornwall. 31.08.12.

Macro images of Calvadosia campanulata
(Click on image link to view larger 1200 x 800 images)

Calvadosia campanulata lateral view of bell -1
L. campanulata lat. view bell showing typical papillation -1
Calvadosia campanulata oral surface of bell -1
Calvadosia campanulata oral surface of bell -2
Calvadosia campanulata aboral surface of bell -1
Calvadosia campanulata secondary tentacles -1
Calvadosia campanulata secondary tentacles -2
Calvadosia campanulata marubrium (mouth) -1
Calvadosia campanulata aboral surface of bell -2
Calvadosia campanulata lateral view of oral surface -1
Calvadosia campanulata small juvenile lateral view -1
Calvadosia campanulata small juvenile oral view -1

A male Calvadosia campanulata producing sperm
Click on image link to view images. Specimen below found at Constantine Beach, North Cornwall, 15.09.15.
Calvadosia campanulata male lateral view -1
Calvadosia campanulata male producing sperm -1
Calvadosia campanulata male producing sperm -2
Calvadosia campanulata male producing sperm -3
Calvadosia campanulata male producing sperm -4
Calvadosia campanulata sperm -1
Calvadosia campanulata sperm under microscope -1

Macro images above taken using a Canon 5D MkII DSLR camera, MP-E 65mm lens, MT-24EX Twin Flash, a full set of Kenko extension tubes and 1.4x Kenko TelePlus Pro 300 teleconverter. Camera setup.

Microscope images using a Cannon 550D mounted to an Olympus BH-2 microscope.

Records

The species here is possibly best described as an occasional find between the tides, usually found on algae on the lowershore but possible higher, also frequently found on or around Eelgrass.

On looking at historical records of this species one has to remember to include Calvadosia cruxmelitensis, unless the specimen/s of Calvadosia campanulata were adequately described. L. cruxmelitensis has a south-western distribution so records away from the SW of the UK and Ireland are likely to be for L. campanulata. Calvadosia cruxmelitensis was first described by P.G. Corbin, in 1978. ref: A new species of the stauromedusan genus Lucernariopsis (Coelenterata: Scyphomedusae). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 58(02), 285-290. (External link to Cambridge Journals - Purchase neccessary).

ENGLAND

Cornwall

In Cornwall Calvadosia campanulata is found on both exposed and sheltered shores and the species doesn't appear to have a preference for either. At Penzance, Cornwall, this species has been recorded in the 1960's and 70's by Mrs. S. M. Turk at Long Rock and Battery Rocks, Penzance, in the months of October and November; and by P. G. Corbin at Marazion Reef B in February 1967. An infrequent find on Marazion Eelgrass bed during a bloom event of Calvadosia cruxmelitensis in March 2014, 1-4 specimen/s were found on three seperate occasions.

Records of Lucernariopsis campanulata held on
the Cornish ERICA database to January 2014

Records of Calvadosia campanulata from the Isles
of Scilly from the ERICA database to January 2014

Cawsand Bay, Cornwall. Single specs.. (Walter Ibbotson Beaumont, B.A.).
Whitsand Bay, Cornwall. Single specs.. (Walter Ibbotson Beaumont, B.A.).
From Journal of the Marine Biological Association v.7 1904-06. Plymouth Marine Invertebrate Fauna. p. 201.

Devon

Ifracombe. "1 1/4 inch high, dull chocolate hue, in parts tinged with olive, attached to seaweed.". Pre. 1855, quite likely August 1854. Sent to Mr. R. Warington by Rev Sir Christopher Lighton.
Ref: Mr. R. Warington on the Aquarium. p.313. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. XVI -Second Series. 1855.

Torbay, possibly near rock called London Bridge. pre. 1865, Philip Henry Gosse. Ref: A YEAR AT THE SHORE BY PHILIP HENRY GOSSE, F.R.S. 1865. Plate 7.

Reny Rocks, Plymouth Sound, Devon. Several small specs. with Haliclystus. (W.I. Beaumont, B.A.). Ref: Journal of the Marine Biological Association v.7 1904-06. Plymouth Marine Invertebrate Fauna. p. 201.

Lundy Island. The Gates, littoral, individuals on red weeds on steep sided gullies. Harvey. 1951.
Lundy Island. Lametry Beach, Goat Island, Ladies Beach, littoral, LW and MTL. L. A. Harvey. 1949.
Ref: 25th Annual Report (1974). The marine fauna of Lundy: Coelenterata. By Keith Hiscock. (External Link to PDF file)

Kent

Dover. Found near low-water mark on the flat rocks to the east of Dover, attached to Ulva latissima. August 1849.
Ref: On Lucernaria inauriculata. By Professor Owen, M.D., F.R.S. Report British Association For The Advancement Of Science. 1850.

Thanet. Summer 2016, a fine unpigmented example of the species reported on Facebook, found by Kent Wildlife Trust. Species verified by David Fenwick.

North Yorkshire

South Bay, Scarborough. 7th May 1913. About 30 specimens on Halidrys siliquosa. JOHN IRVING, M.D..
Ref: LUCERNARIA AT SCARBOROUGH. THE NATURALIST: MONTHLY JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY FOR THE NORTH OF ENGLAND. 1913. See Article (Hit the BACK button on the web browser to return to this page).

Northumberland and Durham

Berwick Bay. - Dr. Johnston. On sea-weeds, near low-water mark; rare.

Cullercoats and Whitley. — A. Hancock and Joshua Alder.

Ref: TRANSACTIONS OF THE TYNESIDE NATURALISTS FIELD CLUB 1854-8 Volume III. 1858. p. 135
VII. — A Catalogue of the Zoophytes of Northumberland and Durham. By Joshua Alder, Esq..

ISLE OF MAN

Isle of Man, south end. First Manx record, some arms having more than 40 tentacles (46-48). Prof. Dakin. Easter 1920.
Ref: XXV. Notes on Lucernaria quadricornis, Muller, and related species. By Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Millport Marine Biological Station. p.224. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. X -Ninth Series. 1922.

WALES

Millford Haven, South Wales. Specimen was collected at Millford Haven during an extensive dredging excursion. William Stimpson, Esq.. September 1862.
Ref: Art. XII. - Prodromus of the History, Structure, and Physiology of the order Lucernariae. By Prof. Henry James-Clark, of Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.. Communicated January 7th, 1863. BOSTON JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY Vol. VII. 1859-1863.

IRELAND

Valencia Harbour, near Church Island, on Zostera bed. 1:5 Calvadosia campanulata to Haliclystus. Mr. Browne. Summer 1896.
Valencia Harbour, near Church Island and Knightstown. Multiple specimens from Zostera beds. Constance and Maud Jane Delap. January 1899.

Record refers to Valentia Island (Irish: Dairbhre), which lies off the Iveragh Peninsula in the SW of County Kerry.

Full Account

Genus Lucernaria.
Lucernaria campanulata, Lamouroux.
Calvadosia campanulata., James Clark, Prodrom. Lucern. Journ. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist., 1863, p. 557.
Lucernaria campanulata, Haeckel. System Medusae, 1879, p. 392.

This species was found living on the Zostera near Church Island, Valencia Harbour, in the summer of 1896. It was fairly abundant, though less so than Haliclystus; Mr. Browne, who collected large numbers of both species in order to study variation, estimated the relative abundance as about 1 to 5. A few specimens were sent to me by the Misses Delap, in January, 1899, from the Zostera-beds near Church Island and Knightstown.
The largest specimen I have examined measures rather over 30 mm. in height, including stalk, and 25 mm. in width, including arms; the diameter of the bell without arms being nearly 15 mm. It is preserved in formol.
Previously recorded from the south of England and Wales (?), but not from the coast of Ireland.
Ref: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Third Series. Volume V. 1898-1900. P.811.

Zostera Beds occur in Beginnis Bay, along the eastern margin of Beginnis Spit to the south of Church Island, west of the Foot near Knightstown, and at Reenglass. Most of these are in part accessible at low water of the best spring-tides. On some of the Zostera beds the Lucernarians - Haliclystus auricula and Lucernaria campanulata -occur. South of Church Island, the firstnamed may be picked off the Zostera in hundreds, and the latter is by no means scarce. Ref: Beaumont - Fauna and Flora of Valencia Harbour, Ireland. Ref: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Third Series. Volume V. 1898-1900. p.757.

A recent report by MERC Consultants for the National Parks and Wildlife Service reports on the sensitive subtidal benthic communities at Valentia Harbour and Portmagee Channel SAC. External Link to PDF file.

Other Irish records

i. Portrush (Greene 1858).
ii. Bray, coll. R. Ball (Thompson 1856).
iv. Kerry (Wright '59) : Valencia Harbour (Beaumont 1900).
V. Miltown Malbay, coll. Prof. Harvey (Thompson 1856).
Ref: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Volume 25. p. 68. 1904-5, also PROCEEDINGS OF THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL & BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION, VOLUME I. 1859. Notes on Irish Lucernariada. p. 188.

Clare Island (Oileán Chliara), east shore of, County Mayo. Between tidemarks, (two specimens). 1909-11.
Clare Island (Oileán Chliara), off the harbour, County Mayo. In 4fms. Collected by Nathaniel Colgan. 1909-11.
Blacksod Bay, County Mayo. Between tide-marks and in 3-5 fms. (three specimens). George Philip Farran and Mr. Rowland Southern. 1909-11.
Species recorded as part of the Clare Island Survey 1909-1911.
Ref: Coelenterata. By Jane Stephens, B.Sc. Read June 10th. Published September 4th 1912. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Vol. XXXI. Section 3. Paper found on the Royal Irish Academy website at http://www.ria.ie/getmedia/12609c46-f129-47c9-8634-f911926d5291/58-Stephens.pdf
Clare Island, County Mayo (Google Maps)

Feorinyeeo Bay, County Mayo. 3-5 fms., two. One specimen at L.W.M. (E.)
Ref: DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION FOR IRELAND. FISHERIES BRANCH; SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS. 1912.
Feorinyeeo Bay, County Mayo (Google Maps)

Distribution Maps and Links
Maps and links here should only be used as a VERY rough guide. A square in any map may represent one record or hundreds or records. A square can also only be added if there is data to support its placement and it appears there are issues with the sharing of data between local and national databases. Only a certain number of sightings will ever get reported to recording schemes and that in general data will largely be provided from areas closer to human habitation as that's where most recorders live.

Distribution of Calvadosia campanulata
in Cornwall from ERICA database (2km)

UK Distribution Map (10km) from NBN Gateway
Please note -- This map above appears to lack data.

Link to Calvadosia campanulata on NBN Gateway

More information to follow.

Stauromedusae UK - Photographic Guide
- Calvadosia campanulata images

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Weblinks
MarLIN species pages for Calvadosia campanulata
Natural England Marine Conservation Zone priority
species information for Calvadosia campanulata

The following works were used in compiling and checking information for the Brief Description found on this page -
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 40 / Issue 01 / November 1961, pp 292-303.
"Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe". Edited by P.J. Hayward and J.S. Ryland.

Calvadosia campanulata image