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To better understand how ecosystems are changing, a multifaceted approach to measuring biodiversity that considers species richness (SR) and evolutionary history across spatial scales is needed. This work clarifies the practical implications of molecular genetic data as diagnostic characters, and sheds light on the patterns and processes that generate crypsis. Recognizing moon jellyfish diversity with formal names is vital for conservation efforts and other studies. We present diagnostic genetic characters for all species and designate type materials for newly described and some resurrected species. Therefore, mostly based on genetic data, we recognize 28 species of Aurelia, of which seven were already described, 10 are formally described herein, four are resurrected and seven remain undescribed. Previous studies have also highlighted the difficulties in distinguishing Aurelia polyps and ephyrae, and their morphological plasticity. This is further emphasized by morphological differences found when comparing lab-cultured Aurelia coerulea medusae with the diagnostic features in its recent redescription. Even though some morphological features seem responsible for most of the variation, regional geographic patterns of dissimilarities are lacking. We demonstrate that morphological variability in Aurelia medusae overlaps across very distant geographic localities. We accepted this challenge for the jellyfish genus Aurelia, which has a long and confusing taxonomic history. Given the interest in Cassiopea as a model organism, the observations presented herein lay out a roadmap for studies that aim at linking environmental heterogeneity to phenotypic plasticity.Ĭryptic species have been detected across Metazoa, and while no apparent morphological features distinguish them, it should not impede taxonomists from formal descriptions. We interpret differences in vesicle and cassiosome morphology in conjunction with nematocyst size disparities as a reflection of environment-mediated shifts in trophic strategy (photo-autotrophy versus heterotrophy). Conducting a meta-analysis of a comprehensive cnidome dataset, we show that nematocysts may provide important information for species delineation and identification in Cassiopea, a suite of characters not fully exploited thus far. In addition, we uncovered differences in cassiosome structure and composition between populations that suggest differences in trophic modes across populations.
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In particular, macromorphological characters, such as vesicle shapes and sizes, have been used as characters to discriminate among species of Cassiopea varied between populations. With this, we were able to document intraspecific phenotypic variation between populations that is likely reflective of distinct ecotypes rather than species-specific disparities. ornata from two distinct habitats and used DNA barcoding for species identification. This contribution investigates phenotypic plasticity in Cassiopea ornata Haeckel, 1880 from Guam, Micronesia. The systematics of Cassiopea is far from completely understood, but the present study represents an important further step. Species richness is underestimated in the Western Pacific region, and integrative approaches are helpful to reveal and describe species. Molecular analyses, based on individual and combined markers (16S + cytochrome c oxidase I, COI), also support two distinct species they are not sister taxa, and both are nested together within a clade of other Cassiopea members from the Australian and Indo-Pacific regions. Nematocyst types not previously observed in the genus are also reported. Herein, sexually dimorphic traits are included for the first time in the descriptions of Cassiopea species. These species can be distinguished from each other using morphological features. and a previously synonymised variety now raised to species level (Cassiopea culionensis, stat.
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These observations lead to the recognition of two distinct species: Cassiopea mayeri, sp. Cassiopea medusae specimens from the Western Pacific (Japan and the Philippines) were analysed using multiple lines of complementary evidence, including types of cnidae, macro-morphology and molecular data. Morphological variability within Cassiopea is well documented and has led to inaccuracies in the establishment of species boundaries in this taxon.