The ultrastructure of nematocysts from the fishing tentacle of the Hawaiian bluebottle, Physalia utriculus (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Siphonophora)

Fishing tentacle nematocysts of the hydrozoan, Physalia utriculus, from Hawaiian coastal waters, were examined by light microscopy, as well as by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Hawaiian P. utriculus has been assumed to be conspecific with the Australian morph based on g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 2002-12, Vol.489 (1-3), p.139-150
Main Authors: YANAGIHARA, Angel A, KUROIWA, Janelle M. Y, OLIVER, Louise M, KUNKEL, Dennis D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cnidaria
Cnidaria. Ctenaria
Coastal waters
Comparative analysis
Fibers
Fishing
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hydrozoa
Invertebrates
Light microscopy
Physalia utriculus
Siphonophora
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Summary:Fishing tentacle nematocysts of the hydrozoan, Physalia utriculus, from Hawaiian coastal waters, were examined by light microscopy, as well as by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM). Hawaiian P. utriculus has been assumed to be conspecific with the Australian morph based on general macroscopic descriptions. Ultrastructural examination using SEM and TEM revealed that the cnidome was composed of two sizes of heterotrichous anisorhizas as well as rare rhopoloids (less than one observed per 1000 nematocysts). Beyond classification of the cnidome of Hawaiian P. utriculus, an unprecedented morphological structure was observed. Specifically, SEM revealed fibers (
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1023/A:1023272519668