First record of Phyllorhiza punctata (Cnidaria: Rhizostomae: Mastigiidae) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

• Main Authors: ENRIQUE-NAVARRO, Angélica, PRIETO, Laura
• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Station Biologique de Roscoff (SBR) 2020
• Subjects: Northeast Atlantic
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.21411/cbm.a.16e1b5e; http://application.sb-roscoff.fr/cbm/doi/10.21411/CBM.A.16E1B5E

The Australian white-spotted jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata had not been previously recorded in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean. Here, we present the first record of this species in the southwestern Atlantic coast of Spain, Cadiz. Particularly, ten specimens including juveniles and adults were collected in August and October 2018 during five field surveys conducted in a tidal creek (Rio San Pedro), communicated with the Bay of Cadiz. The origin of the organism is unknown although long-distance transport of polyps attached to ship hulls or expansion of jellyfish aquarium exhibitions can be considered as possible pathways of invasion. Future observations are required to assess if P. punctata has established a stable population in the region.