Hydromedusae (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the temperate southwestern Atlantic Ocean: a review

Abstract

Hydromedusae are one of the best-represented planktonic groups in waters of the South Atlantic Ocean in terms of species richness. Nevertheless, medusae of the region are inadequately known because earlier studies have been limited and restricted to few areas. During the last two decades, almost 2000 samples from 54 research cruises have been collected, mostly within the continental shelf of Argentina and Uruguay (33 – 55º S). These samples provide an opportunity to significantly augment knowledge of the richness of the medusa fauna in the southwest Atlantic. Forty species of hydromedusae (six of them new records for the area), including 15 of Anthomedusae, 14 of Leptomedusae, three of Limnomedusae, four of Narcomedusae, and four of Trachymedusae, were identified. Our results indicate that previous lists overestimated species richness of hydromedusae in the area. When misidentifications, updated species synonymies, and doubtful records are taken into account, 71 valid species are recognized here from the study area. Based upon this corrected inventory list, the data suggest that the number of species of hydromedusae decreases markedly with increasing latitude, corresponding with that observed in other planktonic groups of invertebrates.