Two Medusae New to the Coast of California: Carybdea marsupialis (Linnaeus, 1758), a Cubomedusa and Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884, a Rhizostome Scyphomedusa

Abstract

The cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis and the rhizostome scypho- <br /><br />medusa Phyllorhiza punctata are reported from waters of California and the east- <br /><br />ern Pacific for the first time. Previously, C. marsupialis was only known from the <br /><br />Atlantic Ocean. It apparently is native to this area but was confused with Carybdea <br /><br />rastoni which is known from Hawaii and the central and western Pacific. P. <br /><br />punctata was recently found in San Diego Bay, previously it was known in the <br /><br />Pacific from Hawaii and the tropical Indo-Pacific. Its recent appearance in Cal- <br /><br />ifornia was probably due to transport of polyps on the hulls of ships. A synopsis <br /><br />of cubomedusae and scyphomedusae from the waters of California is presented; <br /><br />a total of 1 9 species are known.