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.
LUCERNARIA AURICULA.
Tab. VII. Fig. 5.
Lucernaria Auricula. Gmel. Syst. p. 3151.
Holothuria lagenam referens, tentaculis octonis fasciculatis. Mull.
Prodr. Zool. Dan. 2812.
Pellucid, green, brown, purple, red, or yellow, and all the intermediate shades in different subjects: peduncle short, cylindric, sub-angular: arms usually eight surrounding the mouth, connected by a thin membrane almost to the top, the apex of each furnished with numerous short clavate appendages; between each arm on the margin of the web is a small oval reflected vesicle. Length three quarters of an inch ; expansion of the arms full as much.
The arms of these animals are in continual motion, catching their prey, and carrying it to their mouths. Of the three known species of Lucernaria, this is the only one which has occurred on our coasts, and that not frequent; several, however, were taken together in Salcombe Bay, at an unusually low tide, adhering to algae.
The figure represents a variety with only seven arms.
Ref: Lucernaria auricula (Lin. Trans, Vol. IX. Page 113. Plate Tab. 7. fig. 5. 1808) by Montagu.
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The species here possibly best describes Haliclystus octoradiatus, and I agree with Ernst Haeckel on the placement of Montagu's record, given the description and the regularity of H. octoradiatus around Devon and Cornwall, see Haliclystus octoradiatus. Monographie der Medusen, Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) from Challenger Expedition 1872-1876. However, Clark who will be credited with authoring Haliclystus octoradiatus includes Montagu's 1808 record within one of his accounts of Haliclystus auricula.
