Morbakka virulenta is a species of box jellyfish that is found in waters near the islands of Japan. The species was originally described in the genus Tamoya by Kamakichi Kishinouye in 1910. However, unlike other species of that genus, this jellyfish did not have the vertical gastric phacellae (gastric filaments used for digestion) which protect the inside of the bell with nematocyst warts. As a result, it was reclassified to the genus Morbakka due to its distinctively shaped rhopaliar horns which resemble rabbit ears. Because of its painful stings, M. virulenta has been nicknamed Hikurage, which is “fire jellyfish” in Japanese.[1][2]
In common with other jellyfish in the class Cubozoa, Morbakka virulenta has a box-like shape. It has rabbit like rhopaliar horns and closely resembles its close relative from Australia, Morbakka fenneri.[1]M. virulenta is one of the largest species of box jellyfish, with tentacle lengths of about three metres at maximum extension. The maximum bell height observed in M. virulenta can range up to 250 mm and the bell width can range up to 200 mm.[3] The bell of M. virulenta is rectangle-shaped and covered with nematocyst warts. Morbakka virulenta can be distinguished from other species in the family by its heavily branched velarial canals as well as two rows of perradial warts with additional scattered warts.[1]
Distributionedit
M. virulenta have been identified in waters off the coast of Japan in tropical and temperate waters of the neritic zone, notably the Seto Inland Sea.[4] Although the exact habitat distribution is unknown, its range may possibly extend to much of the Indo-Pacific as well as the open ocean. M. virulenta has exclusively been recorded during the fall and winter months in the Japanese region.[1]
Ecologyedit
Reproduction and developmentedit
M. virulenta prefer to breed in the morning time during the fall and winter months, the only months in which adult specimens have been observed. The metamorphosis of embryo into primary polyps has been observed to take 21 days, significantly longer than other box jellyfish. Due to the soft bottoms over which M. virulenta breed, the polyps have long stalks to compensate for being buried in the soft sediment layer on the seafloor.[3] The metamorphosis from polyp to juvenile medusa takes M. virulenta 15 days under the right conditions, and the full maturation of the medusa takes approximately 100 days.[4]
Toxinsedit
While M. virulenta is known by local fishermen and divers as a dangerous species and has been described as having a fiery sting,[3] it has not yet been confirmed if they contain the toxic venom that cause Irukandji syndrome, which can lead to heart failure and death. The venom, which is released through the nematocysts, has been identified in other species in the family Carukiidae.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeBentlage, Bastian; Lewis, Cheryl (2012). "An illustrated key and synopsis of the families and genera of carybdeid box jellyfishes (Cnidaria: Cubozoa: Carybdeida), with emphasis on the "Irukandji family" (Carukiidae)". Journal of Natural History. 46 (41-42): 2595–2620. doi:10.1080/00222933.2012.717645. Retrieved 2018-02-14.
^McGraw, Hill (2003). "gastric filament". THE FREE DICTIONARY.
^ abcToshino, Sho, Hiroshi Miyake, Susumu Ohtsuka, Kazuya Okuizumi, Aya Adachi, Yoshimi Hamatsu, Makoto Urata, Kazumitsu Nakaguchi, and Syuhei Yamaguchi. "Development and Polyp Formation of the Giant Box Jellyfish Morbakka Virulenta (Kishinouye, 1910) (Cnidaria: Cubozoa) Collected from the Seto Inland Sea, Western Japan." Plankton and Benthos Research 8, no. 1 (2013): 1-8.
^ abToshino, Sho, Hiroshi Miyake, Susumu Ohtsuka, Aya Adachi, Yusuke Kondo, Shoma Okada, Takeshi Hirabayashi, and Tatsuya Hiratsuka. "Monodisc Strobilation in Japanese Giant Box Jellyfish Morbakka Virulenta (Kishinouye, 1910): A Strong Implication of Phylogenetic Similarity between Cubozoa and Scyphozoa." Evolution & Development 17, no. 4 (2015): 231-39.
April 11, 2024
morbakka, virulenta, species, jellyfish, that, found, waters, near, islands, japan, species, originally, described, genus, tamoya, kamakichi, kishinouye, 1910, however, unlike, other, species, that, genus, this, jellyfish, have, vertical, gastric, phacellae, g. Morbakka virulenta is a species of box jellyfish that is found in waters near the islands of Japan The species was originally described in the genus Tamoya by Kamakichi Kishinouye in 1910 However unlike other species of that genus this jellyfish did not have the vertical gastric phacellae gastric filaments used for digestion which protect the inside of the bell with nematocyst warts As a result it was reclassified to the genus Morbakka due to its distinctively shaped rhopaliar horns which resemble rabbit ears Because of its painful stings M virulenta has been nicknamed Hikurage which is fire jellyfish in Japanese 1 2 Morbakka virulentaMorbakka virulenta Seto JapanScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum CnidariaClass CubozoaOrder CarybdeidaFamily CarukiidaeGenus MorbakkaSpecies M virulentaBinomial nameMorbakka virulentaKishinouye 1910 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 Ecology 3 1 Reproduction and development 3 2 Toxins 4 ReferencesDescription editIn common with other jellyfish in the class Cubozoa Morbakka virulenta has a box like shape It has rabbit like rhopaliar horns and closely resembles its close relative from Australia Morbakka fenneri 1 M virulenta is one of the largest species of box jellyfish with tentacle lengths of about three metres at maximum extension The maximum bell height observed in M virulenta can range up to 250 mm and the bell width can range up to 200 mm 3 The bell of M virulenta is rectangle shaped and covered with nematocyst warts Morbakka virulenta can be distinguished from other species in the family by its heavily branched velarial canals as well as two rows of perradial warts with additional scattered warts 1 Distribution editM virulenta have been identified in waters off the coast of Japan in tropical and temperate waters of the neritic zone notably the Seto Inland Sea 4 Although the exact habitat distribution is unknown its range may possibly extend to much of the Indo Pacific as well as the open ocean M virulenta has exclusively been recorded during the fall and winter months in the Japanese region 1 Ecology editReproduction and development edit M virulenta prefer to breed in the morning time during the fall and winter months the only months in which adult specimens have been observed The metamorphosis of embryo into primary polyps has been observed to take 21 days significantly longer than other box jellyfish Due to the soft bottoms over which M virulenta breed the polyps have long stalks to compensate for being buried in the soft sediment layer on the seafloor 3 The metamorphosis from polyp to juvenile medusa takes M virulenta 15 days under the right conditions and the full maturation of the medusa takes approximately 100 days 4 Toxins edit While M virulenta is known by local fishermen and divers as a dangerous species and has been described as having a fiery sting 3 it has not yet been confirmed if they contain the toxic venom that cause Irukandji syndrome which can lead to heart failure and death The venom which is released through the nematocysts has been identified in other species in the family Carukiidae 1 References edit a b c d e Bentlage Bastian Lewis Cheryl 2012 An illustrated key and synopsis of the families and genera of carybdeid box jellyfishes Cnidaria Cubozoa Carybdeida with emphasis on the Irukandji family Carukiidae Journal of Natural History 46 41 42 2595 2620 doi 10 1080 00222933 2012 717645 Retrieved 2018 02 14 McGraw Hill 2003 gastric filament THE FREE DICTIONARY a b c Toshino Sho Hiroshi Miyake Susumu Ohtsuka Kazuya Okuizumi Aya Adachi Yoshimi Hamatsu Makoto Urata Kazumitsu Nakaguchi and Syuhei Yamaguchi Development and Polyp Formation of the Giant Box Jellyfish Morbakka Virulenta Kishinouye 1910 Cnidaria Cubozoa Collected from the Seto Inland Sea Western Japan Plankton and Benthos Research 8 no 1 2013 1 8 a b Toshino Sho Hiroshi Miyake Susumu Ohtsuka Aya Adachi Yusuke Kondo Shoma Okada Takeshi Hirabayashi and Tatsuya Hiratsuka Monodisc Strobilation in Japanese Giant Box Jellyfish Morbakka Virulenta Kishinouye 1910 A Strong Implication of Phylogenetic Similarity between Cubozoa and Scyphozoa Evolution amp Development 17 no 4 2015 231 39 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Morbakka virulenta amp oldid 1186577425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
