Structure of nematocysts isolated from the fire corals Millepora alcicornis and Millepora complanata (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa)

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: A García-Arredondo, A Rojas, R Iglesias-Prieto, A Zepeda-Rodriguez, L Palma-Tirado
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2012
• Subjects: hydrocoral; nematocysts; microscopy images; macrobasic mastigophore; stenotele; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-91992012000100014; https://doaj.org/article/a5d8d5b9b767472e82698ffef62b94ef

Structural characteristics of discharged and undischarged nematocysts from the hydrozoans Millepora alcicornis and Millepora complanata, two fire corals collected in the Mexican Caribbean, were examined using transmission electron, scanning and light microscopy. In this study, we report for the first time images of the nematocysts found in these Mexican Caribbean venomous species. Two types of nematocysts were observed in both species, the more abundant identified as macrobasic mastigophore and the other a stenotele type. Macrobasic mastigophores were present in medium and large size classes while stenoteles appeared in only one size.