Manokia bandiera sp. n. and Manokia sp. (Cubozoa, Carybdeida, Alatinidae) bearing tentacles with lure-like lateral branches from Japan and Palau

Abstract

Undescribed cubomedusae of the family Alatinidae were observed off Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan and Koror Island, Palau. Taxonomic investigations, including morphological observations and molecular phylogenetic analyses of the collected specimens and analyses of photographs from Japan and Palau, were conducted. The specimens from Japan had the following characteristics: a rectangular bell, taller than wide with an apical projection, and four pedalia bearing a total of two short and two long tentacles. The short tentacles are very short and club-shaped, and the long tentacles have copepod-shaped lateral branches. Based on these findings, we describe this specimen as a new species, Manokia bandiera sp. n.. The specimen from Palau resembled M. bandiera sp. n.; however, it was distinguished by a rounded bell apex and krill-shaped lateral branches on the two long tentacles. This study provides additional information on the morphology and ecology of these two Manokia species in the family Alatinidae, constituting new records for Japanese and Palauan waters.