Tamoya ohboya

Tamoya ohboya (English Bonaire banded box jelly ) is a type of box jellyfish ( Cubozoa ) from the family of Tamoyidae. The unusual species name goes back to a suggestion that a teacher had made on the Internet and who was elected in the subsequent election on the internet for the new way of the majority. It contains the in English usage widespread surprise expression " Oh Boy".

Features

The bell-shaped shield of Medusa is the holotype 61 mm high and has a diameter of 29 mm. A parameter type with 67 mm height and 32 mm diameter somewhat larger. Divided into eight radii screen is translucent and densely covered with distinct warts on which nematocysts are concentrated. The Pedalia are occupied on both the outer keel as well as on the inner wing also carrying with stinging cells warts. The wings of the Pedalia is designed scalpel -shaped. The pedaliale channel shows a distinct kink in the spinous process. The tentacles are typically cross- banded; alternately red or orange with brown. You are at the base bulged slightly and round in cross-section. The perradialen gonads are arranged as a sheet-like layers. The stomach extends into about a third of the screen height in the subumbrellaren room. The stomach is attached to the Subumbrella by four well-developed, mesenteric bands. The manubrium without Nesselzellen warts is cross-shaped in cross section. The lips are rectangular with rounded edges and turn covered with stinging cells warts. The Rhopalia ( meaning body ) have two median lens eyes and four lateral ocelli ( two pits and two slots ). The statolith is ovoid. He sits in a sense mine, the edges are slightly raised.

The Velarium is relatively wide with numerous canals per octant. Mainly at the end of the channels diverticula are formed. On the side of the exumbrellaren Velarium is irregularly provided with nematocysts warts. The four Frenulae consist of two layers, which trap the right-angled connection from the top of the pit rhopalialen Velarium ( Approx. 3/4 distance between the Velariumumschlag and the edge ). Perradialen lobes are not present. Magenphazellen form the four bands, each band per one Perradius extending perpendicularly from the upper wall of the stomach to Magensphinkter. There are numerous Gastralzirren available that branch out like a tree each.

The Cnidom includes the following types of nematocysts:

• Club-shaped, makrobasische p- Eurytelen (two types, which differ slightly in size and length of the stylet ), the tentacles of
• Lemon-shaped, mikrobasische Birhopaloide, in the tentacles on the manubrium and the Phazellen
• Small, ovate Isorhizen, on the entire body except the Phazellen
• Roundish, holotriche Isorhizen, on the entire body except the stinging cells warts at the apex of the screen
• Small, ovate Amastigophoren, at the tentacle base and Phazellen.

Geographical distribution and habitat

The distribution of the species is not yet known for sure. About 50 confirmed sightings suggest a large distribution area in the Caribbean. Evidenced by photographs are Bonaire ( Netherlands Antilles, today 'special municipality of the Netherlands " ), St. Lucia (West Indies ), Saint Vincent (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Cozumel (Mexico) and Utila (Honduras ). A picture taken in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, lets assume that the range extends up to the coast of northeastern Brazil.

The 50 confirmed sightings were made all in shallow water ( <10 m depth ), most (45 ) are from the western edge of Bonaire.

Way of life

About the life and especially the life cycle is so far very little is known. The species seems to be a single hunter, because so far almost always only a single animal was observed. The animals are probably active during the day, because so far all observations were made on the day. They are fast swimmers.

The vast majority of observations comes from the months of July to September, there are a few observations before from the other months.

Dangerousness

All box jellyfish have more or less powerful poisons that they use for prey capture and defense. The toxins are injected by means of the numerous nematocysts in prey, enemies or random encounters. They are also potentially dangerous to humans. So far, three confirmed cases in which people of Tamoya ohboya were stung. The species does not appear to be as toxic as some of the Pacific species. In one case, the pierced person had to be taken to hospital. The cast caused severe pain and skin irritation. In another case, in addition to severe pain and severe skin lesions were noted.