First record of Phyllorhiza punctata (Cnidaria: Rhizostomae: Mastigiidae) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Abstract

The Australian spotted jellyfish, Phyllorhiza punctata, has not been previously recorded in any Northeastern Atlantic Ocean coast. Here, we present the first record of the species in the Gulf of Cadiz. Five field surveys were performed in the Rio San Pedro tidal creek, communicated with the Bay of Cadiz, in the southwestern Atlantic coast of Spain. P. punctata specimens were observed and collected in August and October 2018. Ten specimens of different sizes were collected, from 9 to 180 mm umbrella diameter including metaephyrae, small, juveniles and adults. The presence of a wide range of sizes makes it possible that these medusae were released from polyps attached to solid substrata and probably are reproducing locally. Future observations are needed to show if the jellyfish can establish a stable population in this new habitat.