Auzzi Shopping

Men's Weekly

.

Hong Kong Baptist University-led team discovers new box jellyfish species in Mai Po Hong Kong

  • Written by Auzzi Shopping

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 18 April 2023 - A Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)-led team has discovered a new species of box jellyfish in the Mai Po Nature Reserve in Hong Kong.

The new jellyfish species, which belongs to the family Tripedaliidae, was named Tripedalia maipoensis by the research team. It is the first discovery of a new box jellyfish species from the waters of China. The discovery also adds a fourth species to the Tripedaliidae family.

The research team is led by Professor Qiu Jianwen, a Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU (middle). Other team members include Dr Carmen Or, Manager, Wetland Research, WWF-Hong Kong (2nd from right); Ms Ringo Cheung, Associate Animal Care Specialist, Ocean Park Hong Kong (1st from left); and Mr Justin Tsui, Graduate of the University of Manchester (1st from right). Mr Philip Wong, General Curator, Ocean Park Hong Kong (2nd from left) shares how the Park rears the jellyfish at the press conference.

A paper describing the new species has been published in the international academic journal Zoological Studies.

Box jellyfish named after Mai Po

The research team was led by Professor Qiu Jianwen, a Professor of the Department of Biology at HKBU. With collaborators from WWF-Hong Kong, Ocean Park Hong Kong and the University of Manchester, the team collected the jellyfish samples from a brackish shrimp pond, locally called "gei wai", in the Mai Po Nature Reserve during the summers of 2020 to 2022, and they found that the samples contained a new species.

Professor Qiu said: "We named the new species Tripedalia maipoensis to reflect its type locality – where the new species was first found. Although it is currently known only in Mai Po, we believe that this species is also distributed in the adjacent waters of the Pearl River Estuary as the gei wais are connected to the estuary through a tidal channel."

Fourth species of the family Tripedaliidae

Named for its cube-shaped body, the box jellyfish, (or scientifically known as class Cubozoa) belong to the phylum Cnidaria. Even though the class Cubozoa is one of the smaller groups among the cnidarians, it includes some of the highly venomous marine animals that are widely known in the tropical waters.

The newly discovered Tripedalia maipoensis belongs to the family Tripedaliidae. It is the fourth described species of Tripedaliidae, and the third described species of the genus Tripedalia around the world. It has a transparent and colourless body with an average length of 1.5 cm. There are three tentacles that are up to 10 cm long at each of its four corners. Pedalia, a flat pedal-shaped structure at the base of each tentacle that looks like a boat paddle, allows box jellyfish to produce strong thrusts when they contract their bodies. They can thus swim faster than other kinds of jellyfish.

The box jellyfish with 24 eyes

Like other box jellyfish, Tripedalia maipoensis has 24 eyes. The 24 eyes are equally divided into four groups, and each group of six eyes is located inside a sensory depression called a rhopalium on each side of the bell. In each group of eyes, the researchers believe that two of them have lenses that enable image-forming, while the other four can only sense light.

Box jellyfish are also characterised by having a velarium, a membranous and muscular sheet that constricts the opening of the bell. There are canals in the velarium which run along the bell margins and allow water to enter the bell. In the new species, the velarial canals are biforked into multi-branches, which distinguishes them from other species of the same genus.

First discovery of new box jellyfish species in Chinese waters

The research team compared samples of Tripedalia maipoensis with those of other closely related species using morphological and molecular methods.

It was discovered that the new species exhibits greater diversity compared to Tripedalia cystophora – its closely related species that have been widely reported in the tropics and subtropics including Jamaica, Florida, Singapore, Australia, and India.

Professor Qiu said: "Box jellyfish are a small group of cnidarians with only 49 species reported worldwide. They are poorly known in Chinese marine waters. Our discovery of Tripedalia maipoensis in Mai Po – a relatively well-studied area in Hong Kong – highlights the rich diversity of marine life in Hong Kong and even the whole of China."

Please click here for photos of the jellyfish and a video on its discovery.

Hashtag: #Jellyfish

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Today's Features at Auzzi

Why Flyscreens Are a Must-Have for Every Sydney Home: Installation Tips and Benefits

Sydney is known for its warm climate, coastal breezes, and outdoor lifestyle. But with the open windows and doors that come with summer living, there’s one major downside: insects. From ...

Top Bathroom Renovation Ideas for Sydney Homes

Renovating the bathroom not only changes the appearance of your house but also its functionality and ambience. Whether you want a full renovation or a spot touch-up, the proper design sele...

What is First Five Forever and How Can You Nourish a Tiny Brain?

Targeted at children aged 0-5 years, First Five Forever is a Queensland State Government initiative designed to support early childhood development. With the key message being, ‘Talk, r...

A Comprehensive Guide to Stress-Free Solar and Battery Integration

Solar energy has become a leading alternative in a world where the demand for sustainable energy is growing. Although using solar to generate energy is wonderful, combining it with battery s...

Why Container Domes Are the Ultimate Solution for Affordable Housing

Imagine residing in a house that is not only reasonably priced but also distinctive and environmentally responsible. Presenting container domes, a cutting-edge housing option that is revolut...

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Free Online Store on MarketTram

MarketTram is a Sydney-based platform that lets you publish unlimited free regular ads, which makes it a low-risk way to start selling. The site focuses on simple listing, local trade and ...

Mining and Infrastructure Surveying Services in Western Australia: What to Know

Western Australia runs on big projects. Iron ore in the Pilbara, gold across the Goldfields, rail expansions and new energy hubs all rely on precise spatial data. Surveying underpins that ...