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Deepstaria

Deepstaria is a genus of jellyfish known for their thin, sheet-like bodies. The genus is named after the Deep Star 4000, which collected the holotype of the type species, D. enigmatica. This species is commonly found at depths of 600 to 1750 meters deep.

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Aug 2, 2026
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Deepstaria
A large Deepstaria jellyfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Scyphozoa
Order: Semaeostomeae
Family: Ulmaridae
Genus: Deepstaria
Russell, 19671
Type species
Deepstaria enigmatica
Russell, 1967
Species

See text

Deepstaria is a genus of jellyfish known for their thin, sheet-like bodies. The genus is named after the Deep Star 4000, which collected the holotype of the type species, D. enigmatica.1 This species is commonly found at depths of 600 to 1750 meters deep.

Description

Characteristic features of this genus include: a large, thin umbrella, lack of tentacles, and long oral arms.2 Due to lack of tentacles and large size, Deepstaria captures prey by encapsulating the prey with its whole body3 and digesting through their gastro-vascular canal system,4 allowing for proper distribution of nutrition, circulation of oxygen, and waste removal.

Species list

As of 2017, WoRMS recognizes two species within the genus:5

References

References

  1. Russell, F. S. (1967). "On a Remarkable New Scyphomedusan". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 47 (3): 469–473. Bibcode:1967JMBUK..47..469R. doi:10.1017/S0025315400035098. S2CID 83907751.
  2. Larson, R. J.; Madin, L. P.; Harbison, G. R. (1988). "In Situ Observations of Deepwater Medusae in the Genus Deepstaria, with a Description of D. Reticulum, Sp. Nov". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 68 (4): 689–699. Bibcode:1988JMBUK..68..689L. doi:10.1017/S0025315400028800. S2CID 85058358.
  3. Gruber, David F.; Phillips, Brennan T.; Marsh, Leigh; Sparks, John S. (May 2018). "In situ Observations of the Meso-Bathypelagic Scyphozoan, Deepstaria enigmatica (Semaeostomeae: Ulmaridae)". American Museum Novitates (3900): 1–14. doi:10.1206/3900.1. ISSN 0003-0082. S2CID 90252478 – via American Museum of Natural History Research Library.
  4. Russell, F. S. (October 1967). "On a Remarkable New Scyphomedusan". Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. 47 (3): 469–473. doi:10.1017/S0025315400035098. ISSN 1469-7769.
  5. Cornelius, P. (2013). "Deepstaria Russell, 1967". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
External links