Lucernaria quadricornis
Stauromedusae UK - An online guide to the Stalked jellyfish (Stauromedusae)
found around the coastal waters of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Includes notes on their identification, and where and how to find them.
- Horned stalked jellyfish*
Species first described in -
Zoologiae Danicae prodromus : seu Animalium Daniae et Norvegiae indigenarum ; characteres, nomina, et synonyma imprimis popularium / Auctore Othone Friderico Müller ... Impensis auctoris.
Otto Frederik Müller. 1776.
2754. LUCERNARIA quadricornis corpore elongato tortili,
brachiis quatuor dichotomis, apice tentaculatis.
In Fuco faccharino. (click for original document)
Plate XLV from "A History of the British Zoophytes" by George Johnston. 1847.
WoRMS taxon details for -
Lucernaria quadricornis O. F. Müller, 1776 - External Link
* Lucernaria quadricornis is known as the Horned stalked-jellyfish in North America.
Ref. A Practical Guide to the Marine Animals of Northeastern North America, Leland W. Pollock, 1998.
Brief Description
- Calyx funnel-shaped, usually to 60mm wide.
- Stalk (peduncle) longer than height of calyx but very contractile.
- Arms arranged in four pairs.
- Perradii between arms twice as wide and deep as interradii.
- 100-140 tentacles per arm, each tentacles consisting of a fine cylinder with small head.
- gonads almost extend to ends of arms.
Records
Shetland Islands
Rachel Shucksmith who has provided the images of Lucernaria quadricornis on Stauromedusae UK reports that Lucernaria quadricornis is quite common in Shetland, it is usually found on kelp whilst diving, normally Laminaria hyperborea. The species being most abundent at Hamnavoe harbour, Burra Isle, Shetland.
60 6.319'N 01 20.283'W and East Voe, Lunna, Shetland.
60 24.01'N 01 07.179'W. Tidal range approx. 1.5m.
Vidlin Voe, Shetland Islands. Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S.. February 1916.
Ref: XXV. Notes on Lucernaria quadricornis, Muller, and related species. By Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Millport Marine Biological Station. p.224. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. X -Ninth Series. 1922.
See article -
Notes on Luceniaria quadricornis, Muller, and related species. By Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S. 1922.
Bressay Sound. On Fuci at low water. Pre. 1868.
Last Report on Dredging among the Shetland Isles. By J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., Rev. A. Merle Norman, M.A., W.C. McIntosh, M.D., F.L.S., and Edward Waller. 1868. p.231. From the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science for 1868.
Unst. On Fuci at low water. Pre. 1868.
Last Report on Dredging among the Shetland Isles. By J. Gwyn Jeffreys, F.R.S., Rev. A. Merle Norman, M.A., W.C. McIntosh, M.D., F.L.S., and Edward Waller. 1868. p.231. From the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science for 1868.
Hellswick Voe. In a sheltered creek, among Laminaria, in 4-7 fathoms. Dredged by Prof. E. Forbes and Mr. McAndrew. 1845.
Ref: A popular history of British zoophytes, or corallines. By the Rev. D. Landsborough, D.D., A.L.S., ETC. 1852.
Ref: Report on the Investigation of British Marine Zoology by means of the Dredge. Part I. The Infra-littoral Distribution of Marine Invertebrata on the Southern, Western, and Northern Coasts of Great Britain. By Edward Forbes, F.R.S., Professor of Botany in King's College, London, and Palaeontologist of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom. Report British Association For The Advancement Of Science. 1850.
Bressay? Rev. Z.M. Hamilton. pre. 1848.
Ref: THE ANNALS AND MAGAZINE OP NATURAL HISTORY. INCLUDING ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, and GEOLOGY. 1848. Vol. II. Second series. p.68. Article by George Johnston.
Common in Shetland, pre. 1809. "On Fucus digitatus (Laminaria digitata) and F. esculentus (Alaria esculenta), which grow in deep water". Contributions to the British fauna, by the Rev. John Fleming. Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society. Vol. II, Part.I, p.248-9, Plate 18. Fig. 1 and 2. 1814.
Scotland
Lucernarian (not readily assigned to any known species, owing to the presence of single capitate tentacles in some of the marginal bays). Near Millport Marine Biological Station (possibly in front of Lion Rock Depastrum cyathiforme site). Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S. 1909.
Ref: XXV. Notes on Lucernaria quadricornis, Muller, and related species. By Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Millport Marine Biological Station. p.224. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. X -Ninth Series. 1922.
Bennan Head, South Arran. As Lucernaria sp.. Annual Report Millport Station. Dr. Russell. 1904.
Ref: XXV. Notes on Lucernaria quadricornis, Muller, and related species. By Richard Elmhirst, F.L.S., Superintendent of the Millport Marine Biological Station. p.224. The Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Vol. X -Ninth Series. 1922.
Saltcoats. D. Landsborough Jun.). pre. 1852.
Ref: A popular history of British zoophytes, or corallines. By the Rev. D. Landsborough, D.D., A.L.S., etc. 1852.
Ardrossan. Mr. Joshua Alder. May 1846.
Ref: A History of the British Zoophytes. By George Johnston, M.D., LL.D.. 1847. Vol.I. p.252.
England
CORNWALL
The only record on ERICA for this species in Cornwall, is for the Inner Gilstone Ledges. Old Town Bay, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly. 49 54.421N6 17.614W. SV90E. SV91770967. 07.09.2010.
Ireland
i. Donaghadee (Templeton 1836).
iv. Ventry Bay (Wright 1859).
Ref: PROCEEDINGS OF THE DUBLIN UNIVERSITY ZOOLOGICAL & BOTANICAL ASSOCIATION, VOLUME I. 1859. Notes on Irish Lucernariada. p. 188. and Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Volume 25. p. 67. 1904-5.
More information to follow.
Distribution Maps and Links
Maps and links here should only be used as a VERY rough guide. A square in any map may represent one record or hundreds or records. A square can also only be added if there is data to support its placement and it appears there are issues with the sharing of data between local and national databases. Only a certain number of sightings will ever get reported to recording schemes and that in general data will largely be provided from areas closer to human habitation as that's where most recorders live.
Isles of Scilly Distribution Map (2km) from ERICA
UK Distribution Map (10km) from NBN Gateway
Isles of Scilly Distribution Map (2km) from NBN Gateway
Link to Lucernaria quadricornis on NBN Gateway
Stauromedusae UK - Photographic Guide
- Lucernaria quadricornis images
Hit the web broswer BACK button if you want
to return to this page after viewing images.
Articles
Lucernaria fascicularis Fleming. Contributions to the British fauna, by the Rev. John Fleming. Memoirs of the Wernerian Natural History Society. Vol. II, Part.I, p.248-9, Plate 18. Fig. 1 and 2. 1814. Article relates to Lucernaria quadricornis.
Lucernaria fascicularis Fleming. A History of the British
Zoophytes by George Johnston M. D. Edin. 1838.
Article relates to Lucernaria quadricornis.
Lucernaria fascicularis Fleming. Article by George Johnston. Annals And Magazine
of Natural History. Vol. II. 1848.
Article relates to Lucernaria quadricornis.
The following works were used in compiling and checking information for the description found on this page -
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom / Volume 40 / Issue 01 / November 1961, pp 292-303.
"Handbook of the Marine Fauna of North-West Europe". Edited by P.J. Hayward and J.S. Ryland.
