• Animal Systematics, Evolution and Diversity
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.8-16
• /
• 2017

We firstly described a box jellyfish, Carybdea brevipedalia collected from the southern coasts of Korea. It is morphologically characterized by gastric phacellae, a special digestive system of cubozoan jellyfish, and velarium, the thin muscle flap forming the opening of the subumbrellar cavity. The phacellae are linear-shaped, comprising numerous cirri branched from multiple roots. Each root also has multiple numbers of cirrus bundles. Basis of velarial cannels parts into two branches in each octant of velarium. Its geographic distributions were limited to Jeju-do and the middle-southern coasts where the organisms are seriously hazardous to bathers in summer. Numerous individuals and/or large-sized populations were observed specifically from beaches at Jeju-do, Namhae-do and a small fishing port of Namildae, while only a small amount of the individuals was observed in Gamak Bay, Jaran-Goseung Bay, and Geoje-do. We confirmed molecular identity of the Korean C. brevipedalia with comparison of nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences. Until now, Carybdea brevipedalia is the only cubozoan species reported to be distributed in Korean waters.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• 제27권1호
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2024

In this study, the swimming behavior of a small box jellyfish (Carybdea brevipedalia), which consists of inhaling external seawater and expelling it through its mouth to generate forward thrust, was characterized using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The flow rate and structure during the suction and discharge process were quantitatively analyzed. During swimming, there was a change in the ratio of the internal area during inhalation and expulsion. Specifically, there was a 1.10-fold difference between the maximum area after inhalation and the minimum area after discharge. The maximum distance traveled after discharge was inversely proportional to the size of the inner area, with a 2.48-fold difference in the minimum distance traveled after suction. Depending on the propulsion stage, the inner area decreased and then increased in proportion to the moving distance and speed. The moving distance of the small box jellyfish was measured for each period. The speed for each swimming stage increased and then decreased at intervals of 0.15 to 0.2 seconds, and the suction and discharge cycle period was measured at approximately 0.5 seconds. Collectively, our findings provide a methodological basis for studying the swimming behavior of small and highly active trailing jet jellyfish, as well as the biological mechanisms that determine this behavior.