Chiropsalmus maculatus sp nov, a cubomedusa from the Great Barrier Reef

2005·2.3 MB·English

by  P F S Cornelius

V
CHIROPSALMUSMACULATUSSP. NOV., ACUBOMEDUSA
FROM THEGREAT BARRIER REEF
PAULF. S. CORNELIUS, PETER J. FENNER& RUSSELLHORE
Cornelius, P.F.S., Fenner, P.J. & Hore, R. 2005 1201: Chiropsalmusmaculatus sp. nov., a
cubomedusa from the Great Barrier Reef. Memoirs ofthe Queensland Museum 51(2
399-405. Brisbane. ISSN0079-8835.
A large cubomedusa, Chiropsalmusmaculatussp. nov., isdescribed from theonly known
specimen, observed and collected live nearthe outeredge ofthe Great Barrier Reef. It is
distinctive in lacking a palm’ to what is a palmate, compound pedalium in other known
chirodropids,and inhavingconspicuous,deeplycorrugatedsubumbrellarmuscle-fields. It
isuniqueamongknowncubomedusaeinhavingapigmentedexumbrellarepidermis. Much
ofthesurfacewascovered in lifebymorethan40discrete,sub-circular,patchesofcolour,
andthebaseofeachpedaliumwasencircledbyafinelineofpigment. Someofthepatches
were arranged in a loosepattern, andthere was aregularcircleofunpigmented epidermis
surroundingeachrhopalium,bothsuggestingstronglythatthecolorationwasgenotypicand
not due to a pathogen orother cause external to the animal. Cnidaria, cubomedusae,
chirodropids, venomous, boxjellyfish, GreatBarrierReef.
PaulF. S. Cornelius, 51 Green CourtRoad, Crockenhill, SwanleyKent, BR88HF, United
Kingdom;PeterJ. Fenner, POBox3080, NorthMackay, Queensland4740; RussellHore,
ReefBiosearch, PortDouglas, Queensland4871, Australia; 27June2004.
A single cubomedusa was collected in May damaged itinwaysunnecessarytoprovisionally
1997, in latitude 16° S, some40km offthecoast define the species. Detailed study of rhopalia,
of NE Queensland, near the outer edge of the velarial canals, sinuses, nematocysts and some
mm
GreatBarrierReef.Thespecimenwasc. 150 other features will best awaitfurtherspecimens.
high,anditsbellwasconspicuouslyspottedwith Thewordpedaliumisappliedincubomedusan
brown patches, whereas other known
literature to two dissimilar structures. In one of
cubomedusae almost entirely lack bell the two generally recognised cubomedusan
coloration. It is described here as Chiropsalmus families, the Carybdeidae, at the base of each
mmauccuhlatauttsenstpi.onnofv.ro(mFigd.ive1r).s Tahned asrneoarkaetltlrearcst.s treengtiaocnletiesrmaetdhitchkeenpeeddaolriuomt.herSwuicshe dpeedmaalricaataerde
Many of them will be aware of the extremely inserted in fourgroups, oneateach lowercomer
venomous Chironex fleckeri Southcott, 1956,
ofthebell, but each individual pedalium isthere
endemic in the region and similar in general attacheddirectlytotheloweredgeofthebell. In
appearance to the species described here. Since
the Chirodropidae, however, the tentacles on
the new species has not been reported before it each comer are inserted essentially around the
mmaayybbeegreelnautiendeltoytrhaerepiansstahegeartehar.oIutgshoctchuerarreenacea edgeof(inmostspecies)a palm-shapedstructure
which has also been termed a pedalium. In the
few weeks earlier ofCyclone Justin, following
which a teleost Fish (Lethrinus), typically found pnreecseesnstarayccobuynt,usae doifstitnhcetiotnerimssmaidndeivwihdeurael
off the continental shelf, occurred in coastal
waters, suggesting a similardeepwaterorigin of pedalium for the first and compound pedalium
tshpeecniemwelnyidseksncorwibne,ditmsefdeuastau.resAlatrehosuogdhisjtuisntctoinvee fWoirlltihaemsseocnonedt. al.Ot(h1e9r96t)ermainndolMogiyanfzoalnlow&s
that its recognition as previously undescribed is Cornelius (1999) which includeda glossary.
justified. Itisnotknown ifthe newspecies isvenomous
to Man. However, in view of the extreme
MATERIALS AND METHODS
virulence of some chirodropids great caution
We were reluctant to dissect the unique should be exercised with live specimens. The
specimen. In fact, within two years in species is one ofthe larger chirodropids and, if
formaldehydesolution ithadbecomesostiffand venomousto Man,itslargesizemightwellresult
brittle that further detailed study might have in massive, harmful envenomation.
400 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
be made on these features. It is, therefore,
referred only provisionally to Chiropsalmus.
This action is preferred over introduction of a
monotypicgenusbecausesuchagenusmightfall
when fertile material is found.
At present the Chirodropidae comprises
Chiropsalmus Agassiz, 1862, Chirodropus
Haeckel, 880,andChironexSouthcott, 1956,of
1
which the last is considered monotypic. The
introduction ofmonotypic oreven small genera,
closely resembling previously recognised ones,
in any family, needs firmjustification based on
appropriate distinction. Hence some generic
revisionmaybeneededinthisfamilysincegonad
structure alone has been employed. Some
account should be taken ofgeneric divisions in
other cubo- and scyphomedusae, because in the
latter, at least, intrageneric variation in gonad
structure is seldom taken as justification for
generic separation. Although we suggest that
generic revision among chirodropids might be
useful, it is inappropriate in the present account
ofone specimen.
FIG. 1. Chiropsalmnsmaculatussp. nov., drawn from An unusual constraint on the generic
video sequence, photographs of live animal and assignment of species in the highly venomous
preserved specimen. Note that the tentacles are Chirodropidaeshould bestressedhere. The need
partiallycontracted.Theshapeoftherhopalialslit in for easy and rapid access to stored medical data
life was invisible in the video sequence of the by clinicians urgently treating potentially fatal
specimenswimmingpriortocollection,anddistorted sting cases should perhaps pragmatically
in thepreservedspecimen. Theblankrhopalial area, over-ride zoological convention. Chironex
shown, may, therefore, represent the normal
ahepipgehatra1n5c0emimn.life, but confirmation is needed. Bell felnevcekenroimaistieoxntrsemcealuysidnagngdeeraotuhs twoitMhainn,asofmeew
minutes (Williamson et al., 1996). It is also a
commonspeciesalongtropicalAustraliancoasts
and along those ofseveral tropical countries to
SYSTEMATICS the north. Thus it will be useful in information
retrieval in an emergency, that the genus name
Phylum CN1DARJA should beretainedonly fortheoneso-farknown
Subphylum MEDUSOZOA Petersen extremely venomous species, Chironexfleckeri.
Class CUBOZOA Werner WhetherornotChiropsalmusmaculatussp. nov.
OrderCUBOMEDUSAE Werner isvenomousto Man isunknown. But ifitproves
FamilyCHIRODROPIDAE Haeckel harmless, future generic revisers will hopefully
agreethat regardlessofanatomy itshouldnotbe
Chiropsalmus L. Agassiz, 1862 referred to Chironex. Though one or more
Chiropsalmus species (depending on taxonomic
REMARKS. Generic divisions in the view) are harmful, they are less so than the one
Chirodropidaearetraditionallybasedontheform species of Chironex, and some arc quite
ofthe gonads and subumbrellarsaccules, which harmless.SinceChimnexcankillinlessthanfive
at sexual maturity are processes ofvaried shape minutes, depending partly on envenomation
hanging down into the subumbrellar space. The intensity, the appearance in literature-searching
saccules are regarded as infertile in during an emergency ofunhelpful references to
Chiropsalmus but bear the gonad tissue in the harmless species might contribute to clinical
single species assigned to Chirone.r. Since the disaster.Thepointisemphasisedheretoforestall
specimen of the present species had neither over-zealous nomenclatural revision, perhaps
gonads nor saccules, generic assignment cannot materially inhibitingclinical practice.
NEW CUBOMEDUSA FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF
401
in other patterns, but not present in a hyaline
circular patch surrounding each rhopalium.
Composite pedalia unlike those of Chironex
fleckeriin notbeingpalmate,thetentaclesbeing
inserted contiguously (Fig. 3B,C).
mm
Bell 150 high; in lifeseemingspherical in
sideview,apexslightlyroundedtoflat,cuboidin
plan view; mcommers ofbell grooved from top to
within 15 of pedalium, deepest (9 mm)
4abmormalldye;espi,dsetsroaifgbhetllfwriotmhwtiwtohifnur5t0hemrmgrooofvueps,pecr.
edgetolevelofrhopaliumwheredeflectinwards,
mm
passing within 2 of rhopalial niche, then
extending to velarium but not meeting
it.
Exumbrellar surface and mesogloea transparent
inlife,internalstructuresvisiblethroughitwhere
exumbrellar pigment absent. Jelly"maximum
thickness 10 mm in perradius, 20 mm in
interradius; flexible in life but bending only
slightly during swimming; firm after
preservation in formaldehyde solution.
FIG. 2. Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov. Single
compound-pedalium in side view with associated
individualtentaclebases.Lengthofuppersegmentof
compoundpedalium60 mm.
Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov.
(Figs 1-6)
MATERIAL. HOLOTYPE QMG316989: Just inside
OuterBarrierReef,NEQueeasland,43 kmoffmainland,
15° 59.050’S, 145° 49.294’E,2 May 1997,within 5mof
surface, coll. R. More. A 23-second underwater video
sequencewastakenofthelivinganimalbeforecollection,
and is deposited with the type specimen. There was a
substantial,permanent,illuminatedMan-madestructurein
thevicinity,butthespecimenwasnoticedindaylight.The FIG 3. Chiropsalmusmaculatus sp. nov. A, B, single
specimen could not be fixed for several hours, and compound-pedalium in plan view from outside of
subsequentlyprovednotablybrittleand fragile. specimen. Left upper, A, in natural position. Left
lower, B, with the unpaired outer section pulled to
DESCRIPTION. A solid chirodropid with reader’s left. Right middle, C, same from inside to
conspicuous vertical fluted ridgesatcomersand show contiguous bases ofthe paired tentacle bases.
massive pedalial bases jutting out prominently In C the puny, unpaired outertentacle is not visible
from lowermost 1/5 of bell (Fig. 1); irregular since the view is from the inside; and two small,
sub-circular brown patches over most of paired, probably young tentacles are shown in the
mid-line.
epidermis, arranged quasi-regularly in lines and
402 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
pedalium, bendingslightly(as though hinged)
at
mid-pointofuppersurfaceoneach power-stroke
ofbell; bearing single, narrow, short and puny
tentacle, itslengthin lifeapproximately halfbell
diameter, and trailing outside main cluster of
tentacles; two inner portions each comprising
5-(probably)7 thick, almost cylindrical, pedalial
‘fingers’, flattened laterally, inserted closely
together with opposite and adjacent pedalial
bases contiguous or nearly so. Each tentacle
moderately thick, hollow, tapering distally;
perhapstypically 15perbellcomer(7x2plusone
puny outer) but in present specimen up to 5x2
plus puny outer and also two small presumed
tentaclebulbs; outermostoneoneachcompound
pedalium unpaired and circular in section, rest
paired and flat in section, tapering gradually to
point; new tentacles developing from inner side
ofpedalium.
Subumbrellar surface ofbell (Fig. 4) in each
inter-rhopalar radius having large field of
horizontalmuscle-folds,occupyingnearlywhole
mm
height ofbell, up to 50 across, widest about
FIG. 4. Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov., part of halfway up bell; about 70 folds in each muscle
subumbrellar surface ofholotype. Note the deeply field. Other, much smaller, vertically-orientated
folded muscle-fields and the gastric cirri. Scale in muscle fields nearmargin ofsubumbrella.
mm.
Gastricsystem. Manubrium a wide square tube,
attached by substantial suspensoria to within 40
Velarium thin; width about 1/4 bell aperture; mm of mouth; approximately 140 mm long
when extended during bell contraction, slightly (measured from subumbrella surface) but
taperingbelow; edgeseemingly frilled but even; probably extensile; with convoluted internal
connectedtosubumbrellarsurfacebyafrenulum surface (this visible from outside) from top to
in each ofthe4 perradial planes; velarial canals lowest level ofsuspensoria.
notdiscerned. Mouth lips tortuous, slightly thicker than
Rhopalial niche large, entrance slit probably manubrial tissue.
sshpaelcliomwelny caunrdvepdhoitnoglirfaepbhuitcsmhaatpeeriuanlc,le6a-r9fmromm Gastric cirri numerous, up to c. 5 mm long in
wide,closedanddistortedinpreservedspecimen cproensseprivceudoussppehcaicmeelnl,i (fFiinge.ly4).tapered distally, in
and apparently closed in video sequence;
surrounding epidermisslightly puckered several Radial and ring sinuses, ‘rose-thorn
hours after collection, possibly smooth in life, corniculum’ not discerned through dimly
colourless; lips flush with outer surface; translucent tissue, even with light behind and
rhopalium (in preserved specimen) totally after injection of(labile) dye into lumen ofone
enclosedwithinclosednicheandnotexamined. compoundpedalialbase;butdetailedexploration
notundertakenowingtofragilityanduniqueness
Pedaliciandtentacles. Eachcompoundpedalium ofspecimen.
a(Friegasof2,at3t)aicnhsmeernttedinovnerltoedwehremarots-tsh1a/p5edo,fpbeoliln,teitds Gonads and subumbrellar saccules not
above; slightly tapering distally; symmetrical midaenntuibfireidu.mPowsassiblgyoncadoinavlo,lustepdecitimsesnuemoauytsibdee
about mid-line, and without palmate central
region as in Chironex; comprising a large infertile.
triangular outer portion bearing single tentacle, Colour and colour pattern. Epidermis with
and two mirror-image flanking portions numerous large irregularpatches, approximately
mm
apparently fused together in mid-line; outer circular to oval, each c. 10 diameter, and
portion in side view elongate-triangular, numerous scattered, smaller, spots; orange-
m
projecting conspicuously clear of rest of brown in life, seemingdark chocolate atc. 10
NEW CUBOMEDUSA FROM THE GREAT BARRIER REEF 403
uniformity decreasing distally (from video and
from photographs oflive specimen by R.H.)
DIMENSIONS. mm
Bell height 150 (top ofbell
to base ofvelarium), maximum width 60 mm.
1
Lengthofcompoundpedalium60mm. Velarium
mm
27 wide. Distance from rhopalar niche to
edge ofvelarium 25 mm; niche height 17 mm,
dleinagmtehteerx2t0enmdmed.Tinenltiafcele1.d0i-a1m.e2tmeru(pfrtoom10vimdemo;,
maybe longer if completely undisturbed), 300
mm
when contracted after preservation in
formaldehyde solution. In preserved specimen,
the 4 small, outer tentacles (one per pedalial
group)4mmwide basally,40 mmlong, tapering
glroandgu(aalslycotnotrpoaicntte;dlianrgperresteernvtaatcilvees),up10tom1m35wmidme
mm
basally tapering to 3 wideat truncate tip.
STING. No unequivocal information. Following
collection the single specimen was kept in sea
water in a small bucket at ambient tropical
daytime temperature for 5 hrs, after which it
FIG 5. Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov. Typical failed either to sting, or adhere to, the hand and
banding pattern of a partially contracted main forearmofan incautiousvolunteer. Thisgivesno
tentacle. Note that variation within the single firm indicationofitspossiblevirulence, since C.
specimen examined, and intraspecific variation in Jleckeri can lose its capacity to sting in such
otherchirodropids, suggestthat thebandingpattern temperatures (P.J.F.).
should not be taken as consistent in the species,
pending furtherinformation. REMARKS.InChiropsalmusmaculatussp.nov.
theindividualtentaclesarecontiguousbasallyon
depth in the sea; some ofoval patches twice as the compound pedalium, and there is no ‘palm’
long as wide. Several ragged vertical rows of separating them as in the palmate compound
coloured patches per side, those in some rows pedalia ofother chirodropids. C. maculatus sp.
largerthan inothers.Oneachsideapproximately nov. differs additionally from Chironexjleckeri
24 large patches and 400 of all sizes; c. 35 in having brown spots on the exumbrelia and a
medium-sized ones clustered in centre of each brownlinearoundthebaseofeachpedalium,the
side; distribution ofall spots and larger patches epidermis of C. Jleckeri and of other large
densesttowardsvelarium;remainingspotsc.330 cbhiilrloodwroipnigdsobfeitnhgeesbseelnltiadlulyricnoglousrlweissm;miinntgh,e
perside,moreirregularinoutline,sometendency recognised by RH as differing notably from the
to cluster as ‘satellites’ of the largest ones. more rigid appearance ofthe bell in C.Jleckeri;
tEixsusmuebroeflvleratricaglrcooomveerssoorfasnugbcu/mbbrroewllna.reEploarstteidc agennderinalthceolcooluorrpaattitoenrnofofthtehetseen,taocflbeasn(dFsigo.f5v).arTiheed
bright purple before preservation (RH).
width arranged in a semi-regular but varying
Compound pedalia colourless, but base ofeach pattern, recalls that in Chiropsalmus
mn5)amrirnolwwiilfedyeb;raindmlemodseidpnuogrrpaclneogleao-nubdrrwohwiinnt.ef,Toetrnhtmeaabclaldnesedsh(Fy1id-ge.6 Jqblauenacdkdesrruism,eaipnnaurwasht.ieIcdthdbitfyhfeernresarmarraoerwk,teydppilacylaelflrbyoamwnidtdshe,a,ttidhnaerCr.ke
solution: typically with the nanowest, darkest being typically bands of two widths and two
bands Hanked each side by slightly wider pale colours. In all chirodropids with coloured bands
band (in triplets oflight-dark-light), with much onthetentacles,thecontractionofpartorall ofa
longer section of intermediate colour intensity tentacle reduces the widths of the bands and
between, but this, the commonest arrangement, distorts the pattern. In the new species the
inconstantinplaces;thebandstypicallyidentical rhopalia are noticeably each surrounded by a
in position on adjacent tentacles but this clear region devoid of pigment, as though
404 MEMOIRS OF THE QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
1 r
FIG 6. Chiropsalmus maculatus sp. nov. Details ofholotype after collection. Stills captured from a DVD
sequencepreparedfromunderwatervideo.Waterdepthwasnotrecorded,butthecoloursareprobablydistorted
towards the blue through attenuation. The specimen had been the subject ofattention, and the tentacles are
opurtobsatrbaliyghctonatnrdapcatreadllaenldwictohntoonrteeadn;oitnhetrheanredlaarteedmCo.rpeaaltmteontuuaste,.inA-uBnd,issitduerbveidewisndaitv(iAd)uaalnsdtnheeatren(tBa)cleensdsotfrbeealml
contraction during swimming; note fully distended velarium, the round profile ofthe bell, the shape of the
compoundpedaliumwiththeoutersectionsupportingasingle,puny,unpairedtentacle;thepalerhopalardiscs
betweenthepedaliumbases;thetransparent,thinjellyintherhopalarradii;andthebandedtentacles. C,aboral
(*top’) view; note somewhat square section with thickerjelly at the comers, and the prominent outward
projectionoftheouterbranchofthepedalium. D,oralview;notetransparencyofthethinjellyintherhopalar
radius,visible through thewidevelarial aperture; andthepedalia.
enabling the rhopalial photoreceptors to better inter-rhopalar muscle-fields are much deeper
detect light. In this species the unpaired than in otherchirodropids (Fig. 4).
outermost tentacle on each compound pedalium
CONCLUSIONS
is puny in comparison with the others, being
much shorter and narrower, whereas in C.
fleckeri it is approximately equal in length and Little can be said about the so-far unique
width to the other tentacles, and in C. occurrence of this species since there is little
quadnimanus it is between the two in relative indicationofhow itgottothecollection locality.
size. Finally, in the new species the folds in the Thespeciesshouldberegardedbythosehandling
NEW CUBOMEDUSA FROM THE GREAT BARRIERREEF 405
it as possibly very dangerous to Man, like other viewing. RH collected the specimen, and
large chirodropids, until proved otherwise. provided the still photographs of it in life and
soon afterdeath.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
LITERATURECITED
We are grateful to Ann Alexander, University
of Wales, Bangor, U.K., for executing the MIANZAN, H.W. & CORNELIUS, P.F.S. 1999.
pen-and-ink drawings, and for detailed CubomedusaeandScyphomedusae.Pp.513-559.
discussion of the anatomy of the species with In Boltovskoy, D. (ed.) South Atlantic
PFSC; to Robin Cook, of Reef Biosearch, for Zooplankton(Backhuys: Leiden).
taking the excellent underwater video sequence SOUTHCOTT, R.V. 1956. Studies on Australian
ofthe holotype specimen; and to Phil Crabb of Cubomedusae,includinganewgenusandspecies
the Photographic Studio, The Natural History apparentlyharmfultoMan.AustralianJournalof
tMousGeruame,meLoHnadropne,r,foDrirFeicgtuorre 4o.fWtheeaCreengtrraeteffuolr WILL&MIaArRMiInSeFOKaNIn,Nd,JF.rAJ.e.,sFh.FwEa(NteedNsrE)RRe,1s9eP9a.6Jr..c,hBVU7e:Rn2No5Em4T-o2Tu8s,0.Ja.nWd.
Creative and Performing Arts, University of poisonous marine animals: a medical and
Wales,Bangor,fordiscussingthevideosequence biological handbook. (University ofNew South
with PFSC and Ann Alexander, and for its Wales:Sydney;andSurfLifeSavingQueensland:
DVD
enhanced transfer to format for detailed FortitudeValley,Queensland.)p. 504.