First records of three cepheid jellyfish species from Sri Lanka with redescription of the genus Marivagia Galil and Gershwin, 2010 (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae: Cepheidae)

Abstract

Cepheid medusae appeared in great numbers in the northeastern coastal waters of Sri Lanka during the non-monsoon period (March to October) posing adverse threats to fisheries and coastal tourism, but the taxonomic status of these jellyfishes was unknown. Therefore, an inclusive study on jellyfish was carried out from November 2016 to July 2019 for taxonomic identification of the species found in coastal waters. In this study, three species of cepheid mild stingers, Cephea cephea, Marivagia stellata, and Netrostoma setouchianum were reported for the first time in Sri Lankan waters. Moreover, the diagnostic description of the genus Marivagia is revised in this study due to the possessing of appendages on both oral arms and arm disc of Sri Lankan specimens, comparing with original notes and photographs of M. stellata.