On the life history and developmental stages of the medusaPodocoryne borealis

Abstract

It has been shown in a recent paper by Russell (1940) that in addition toPodocoryne corneaM. Sars, 1846, and the so-calledP. areolata, two otherPodocorynemedusae, viz.P. hartlaubiNeppi & Stiasny, 1913, andP. minima(Trinci), also occur in the plankton in British waters. The identity of both hydroid and medusa of the EuropeanP. corneais well established arid the medusa has never been known to mature with more than 8 tentacles (Kramp, 1927; Russell, 1940).P. minimais a small medusa with only 4 tentacles and need not be considered further in this paper.