(Quoy and Gaimard, 1827)

Nectosome reduced bearing a maximum of 5 nectophores. The nectophores are boot-shaped, with the nectosac occupying most of the foot, and a long, thick pedicular canal running from its apex up through the heel. The flattened base has two facets separated by a central protuberance. The dorsal radial canal is straight, while the ventral one makes several curves. The lateral canals are looped. The large, gelatinous bracts bear a proximal keel for attachment. The dorsal surface of the mature bracts bears several rows of prominent papillae. A very distinctive species. Only the most distorted nectophores in any way resemble those illustrated by Totton (1954).

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Subclass Siphonophorae
Order Physonectae
Family Athorybiidae
Genus Melophysa
Species Melophysa melo

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Accepted name: Melophysa melo (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

Sorry, there are no scientific synonyms and common names available for this species

Totton A.K. 1954. Siphonophora of the Indian Ocean together with systematic and biological notes on related specimens from other oceans. Discovery Rep., 27:1-162.

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