Chrysaora
Encyclopedia
Chrysaora is a genus
of the family
Pelagiidae
(Jellyfish). A recent analysis of the genus found there to be 12 valid species. The origin of the genus name Chrysaora lies in Greek mythology with Chrysaor
, brother of Pegasus
and son of Poseidon
and Medusa
. Translated, Chrysaor means "he who has a golden armament."
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Pelagiidae
Pelagiidae
Pelagiidae is a family of jellyfish. There are 15 species in this family.-Genera:*Chrysaora**Chrysaora achlyos Martin, Gershwin, Burnett, Cargo & Bloom 1997**Chrysaora africana **Chrysaora blossevillei Lesson 1830...
(Jellyfish). A recent analysis of the genus found there to be 12 valid species. The origin of the genus name Chrysaora lies in Greek mythology with Chrysaor
Chrysaor
In Greek mythology, Chrysaor , the brother of Pegasus, was often depicted as a young man, the son of Poseidon and Medusa. However, Chrysaor is sometimes said to be a giant or a winged boar. Chrysaor and his brother, the winged horse Pegasus, were not born until Perseus chopped off Medusa's head...
, brother of Pegasus
Pegasus
Pegasus is one of the best known fantastical as well as mythological creatures in Greek mythology. He is a winged divine horse, usually white in color. He was sired by Poseidon, in his role as horse-god, and foaled by the Gorgon Medusa. He was the brother of Chrysaor, born at a single birthing...
and son of Poseidon
Poseidon
Poseidon was the god of the sea, and, as "Earth-Shaker," of the earthquakes in Greek mythology. The name of the sea-god Nethuns in Etruscan was adopted in Latin for Neptune in Roman mythology: both were sea gods analogous to Poseidon...
and Medusa
Medusa
In Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
. Translated, Chrysaor means "he who has a golden armament."
Valid species
- Chrysaora achlyosChrysaora achlyosThe black sea nettle , sometimes informally known as the "black jellyfish" due to its dark coloration, is a species of jellyfish that can be found in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Its range is thought to be from Monterey Bay in the north, down to southern Baja California and Mexico, though there...
Martin, Gershwin, Burnett, Cargo & Bloom 1997 - Chrysaora chinensis Vanhöffen, 1888
- Chrysaora colorataChrysaora colorataThe purple-striped jelly is a species of jellyfish that exists primarily off the coast of California in Monterey Bay. The bell of the jellyfish is up to 70 cm in diameter, typically with a radial pattern of stripes...
(Russell 1964) - Chrysaora fulgida (Reynaud 1830)
- Chrysaora fuscescensChrysaora fuscescensChrysaora fuscescens is a common free-floating scyphozoa that lives in the Pacific Ocean, and is commonly known as the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle....
Brandt 1835 - Chrysaora hysoscellaChrysaora hysoscellaChrysaora hysoscella, also known as the compass jellyfish, is a very common species of jellyfish that lives in coastal waters near the United Kingdom and Turkey. It has a diameter of up to 30 cm. Its 24 tentacles are arranged in eight groups of three. It is usually colored yellowish white, with...
(Linné 1766) - compass jelly - Chrysaora lactea Eschscholtz 1829
- Chrysaora melanasterChrysaora melanasterThe Japanese sea nettle , also called a northern sea nettle or brown jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as a Pacific sea nettle, but this name is also used for Chrysaora fuscescens....
Brandt 1838 - Chrysaora pacifica (Goette 1886)
- Chrysaora pentastoma Péron & Lesueur, 1810
- Chrysaora plocamia (Lesson 1832)
- Chrysaora quinquecirrha (Desor 1848) - sea nettle
Synonyms and dubious species
- Chrysaora africana (Vanhöffen 1902) [accepted as Chrysaora fulgida (Reynaud, 1830)]
- Chrysaora blossevillei Lesson 1830 [nomen dubium]
- Chrysaora caliparea (Reynaud 1830) [species inquirenda]
- Chrysaora depressa (Kishinouye 1902) [accepted as Chrysaora melanasterChrysaora melanasterThe Japanese sea nettle , also called a northern sea nettle or brown jellyfish, is a species of jellyfish native to the eastern Pacific Ocean. It is sometimes referred to as a Pacific sea nettle, but this name is also used for Chrysaora fuscescens....
Brandt 1838] - Chrysaora helvola Brandt 1838 [accepted as Chrysaora fuscescensChrysaora fuscescensChrysaora fuscescens is a common free-floating scyphozoa that lives in the Pacific Ocean, and is commonly known as the Pacific Sea Nettle or West Coast Sea Nettle....
Brandt 1835] - Chrysaora kynthia Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 [nomen dubium]
- Chrysaora southcotti Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 [accepted as Chrysaora pentastoma Péron & Lesueur, 1810]
- Chrysaora wurlerra Gershwin & Zeidler 2008 [nomen dubium]