日本産十文字クラゲ類の分類の今昔

摘要

Until recently, stauromedusan classification was quite subjective being based only on morphology and without sound phylogenetic inferences. A recent molecular phylogenetic study did not support the traditional classification of stauromedusae into two groups based on presence/absence of the claustrum, an internal structure in the radial pockets. Instead, it was shown that they are divided into two groups that can be distinguished by presence/absence of longitudinal muscles in the peduncle, and a new classification system was proposed. Here, the stauromedusae hitherto known from Japan are reclassified under this new system, and differences between the old and new classifications are briefly overviewed.