Abstract
Staurozoa is a class of Cnidaria comprising stalked, benthic jellyfishes (Marques & Collins 2004) that encompasses about 51 species (Mills 1999; Zagal et al. 2011). Stauromedusae are distributed worldwide, but are more common in temperate and polar waters (Mills & Hirano 2007). Taxonomic knowledge of these cnidarians is inadequate, as is information on their biology and ecology, probably because of their cryptic habit and general inconspicuousness (Mills & Hirano 2007). Consequently, scarcity of material renders their taxonomy even more difficult, demanding basic knowledge of their life cycle (e.g., Miranda et al. 2010) and intraspecific morphological variation (e.g., Miranda et al. 2009). Revisions of unique records of unidentified species (e.g., Lucernariopsis from India by Panikkar 1944), and more complete studies of species known only from original descriptions, sometimes based on few individuals (e.g., Kishinouyea hawaiiensis Edmondson), are necessary and can produce interesting information.
References
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