(Eschscholtz, 1829)

Description
Anterior nectophore of polygastric stage [C.appendiculata-polygastr ]: very rigid in construction. Only three ridges reach the apex, one of the latter as well as the dorsal being incomplete. The angular mouth plate is divided. The hydroecium is claw-shaped, extending to about one sixth of the nectophoral height. The somatocyst arises at the apex of the hydroecium, and is long and spindle-shaped.
Posterior nectophore [C.appendiculata-postnect ]: slightly asymmetrical, with one basoventral process longer than the other. The basal parts of the ventral ridges are strongly serrated, each with a small but obvious tooth approximately at the ostial level. The apex of the nectophore is pointed.
Eudoxid [C.appendiculata-eudox ]: the bract is roughly conical with a small-shield, and a thickened, elongated phyllocyst. The gonophore has four longitudinal ridges, which bear small serrations basally.

Colour
The nectophores often become opaque on preservation.

Size
Anterior nectophore up to 20 mm in height.

Depth range
Occurring particularly in the upper 300 m.

Distribution in the North Sea
Probably not in the North Sea. Chelophyes appendiculata is found in occasional incursions of warmer waters on to the European Continental Shelf towards the northern North Sea. The species is often collected together with other species of siphonophore from warmer waters.

World distribution
Chelophyes appendiculata is probably the commonest species of siphonophore, and is abundant in the warmer waters of the World’s oceans. In the NE Atlantic this species is found rarely north of the frontal region of approximately 42°-46°N, which represents the boundary between those waters with a permanent thermocline, to the south, and the northerly waters where only a seasonal thermocline is developed.

[After Kirkpatrick and Pugh, 1984]

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Superclass Hydrozoa
Class Siphonophora
Order Calycophorae
Family Diphyidae
Subfamily Diphyinae
Genus Chelophyes
Species Chelophyes appendiculata

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Chelophyes appendiculata (Eschscholtz, 1829)

Scientific synonyms and common names

(1) Synonymy of polygastric stage:

Diphyes appendicularia | Eschscholz, 1892
Diphyes elongata | Hyndman, 1841
Diphyes sieboldii | Kölliker, 1853
Diphyes acuminata | Leuckart, 1953
Diphyes gracilis | Gegenbaur, 1854
Diphyes bipartita | Costa, 1836
Diphyes elongata | Haeckel, 1888
Chelophyes appendiculata | Totton, 1932

(2) Synonymy of eudoxid stage:

Eudoxia campanula | Leuckart, 1853
Eudioxia messanensis | Gegenbaur, 1854
Eudoxoides sagittata | Huxley, 1859
Eudoxia russelli | Totton, 1932
Chelophyes appendiculata | Totton, 1956

Kirkpatrick, P.A. and P.R. Pugh, 1984. Siphonophores and Velellids. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series), No. 29. Brill/Backhuys, London.

Totton, A.K. and J.H. Fraser, 1956a. Siphonophora. Suborder: Calycophorae. Family: Diphidae. Genus: Lensia. Fiches d'Identification du Zooplancton, 55 (1955). Conseil International pour l'Exploration de la Mer, Kopenhagen.

Totton, A.K., 1965. A synopsis of the Siphonophora. British Museum (Natural History). London, 230 pp, 153 figs, 40 pls.

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