Linuche aquila

Linuche aquila is a species of cnidarian found in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean. It is very small and is commonly known as a thimble jellyfish because of its size and shape. The larvae can cause bathers to develop an itchy red rash commonly known as seabather's eruption.

Linuche aquila
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Coronatae
Family: Linuchidae
Genus: Linuche
Species:
L. aquila
Binomial name
Linuche aquila
(Haeckel, 1880)[1]

Description

This is a very small jellyfish with a flat-topped bell separated from the vertical sides by a coronal groove. It can grow to a diameter of 16 mm (0.63 in) and a height of 13 mm (0.51 in). There are sixteen bluntly oval marginal lappets (flaps) and eight rhopalia (sensory organs) between them. Underneath the bell is a manubrium with a central mouth and four undivided lips. This leads to a four-chambered stomach which opens through four openings into a ring sinus which has sixteen branching pouches extending into the lappets. Eight gonads are present, arranged in four crescent-shaped pairs. This jellyfish has symbiotic zooxanthellae in its tissues which supply a major part of its energy requirements.[2]

Ecology

Some authorities consider Linuche aquila to be a synonym of Linuche unguiculata, a species that occurs in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. Both become very numerous at some times of year, forming vast swarms, and in the case of Linuche aquila these can be found anywhere between Malaysia and the east coast of Africa. The larvae of both species are known as sea lice and are causative agents for a condition known as seabather's eruption.[3] They cause itchy red rashes with raised pustules in areas where the larvae have got trapped under swimwear and discharged their stinging cells into the skin.[4] Cases caused by Linuche aquila have been reported from Thailand and the Philippines.[5] Most cases occur between the months of March and August, peaking in May and June.[6]

References
  1. Schuchert, Peter (2018). "Linuche aquila (Haeckel, 1880)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  2. "Linuche aquila (Mayer, 1910)". Information system on Scyphozoa, Cubozoa and Staurozoa. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  3. Cleland, John Burton; Southcott, R.V. (1965). Injuries to Man from Marine Invertebrates in the Australian Region. National Health and Medical Research Council. p. 144.
  4. LaMotte, Sandee (6 June 2016). "'Sea lice' are actually not-so-cute baby jellyfish". CNN. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  5. Guevara, B.E.K.; Dayrit, J.F.; Haddad, V. Jr. (2017). "Seabather's eruption caused by the thimble jellyfish (Linuche aquila) in the Philippines". Clinical and Experimental Dermatology. 42 (7): 808–810. doi:10.1111/ced.13196.
  6. Brown, Clarence William Jr. (30 April 2018). "Seabather's eruption". MedScape. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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