Table 2. Synopsis of the putative diagnostic characteristics to differentiate the four nominal species of Phacellophora currently synonymized (sensu Mayer, 1910), excluding specimens collected excessively far from type localities.
| Name | P. camtschatica | P. ambigua 1 | P. ornata 1 | P. sicula 2 | Azores specimen col. June 2020 | Azores specimen col. Nov. 2020 | Phacellora Fedele (1937b) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter of disk in cm | 50 to 60 | 15 to 20 | 25–45 | 15.5 | 13.8 (11,6 in formalin) | 17,7 (13,7 in formalin) | 45 |
| Shape and number of marginal lappets | 16 trilobate lappets in rhopalar radii. Seven small lappets in each of 16 semicircular, velar lobes. | (4 × 16) 64 lappets, all similar to each other, and evenly rounded. | (4 × 16) to (6 × 16) lappets all similar to each other and evenly rounded.3 | 32 narrow, rounded rhopalar lappets (or 16 bilobate). 16 simple velar lobes. | As in P. sicula | As in P. sicula | 16 bilobate rhopalar lappets. 4–7 × 16 small lappets in velar lobes |
| Shape of mouth-arms. | Long, narrow, resembling those of Aurelia. | Wide, curtain-like, and resembling those of Cyanea. | As in P. ambigua. | As in P. ambigua. | As in P. ambigua. | As in P. ambigua. | As in P. ambigua. |
| Number of radial-canals | 16 branched rhopalar canals, and 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched, rhopalar, and 3 to 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched rhopalar, and 2 to 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched, rhopalar, and 3 to 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched rhopalar, and 3 to 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched rhopalar, and 2 to 5 × 16 unbranched | 16 branched rhopalar, and 3 to 5 × 16 unbranched |
| Number of tentacles in each cluster | 20 to 24 | 9 | 5 to 9 | 9 to 15 | 9 to 21 | 5 to 21 | 14 to 24 |
| Where found | North Pacific from Siberia to California | Pacific coast of North America | NW Atlantic | Mediterranean | Azores | Azores | Mediterranean |
Notes:
The respective morphologic characteristics for the two Phacellophora collected in the Azores, and the specimen of Fedele (1937b), are included for comparison.
1
Closely allied, probably identical (sensu Mayer, 1910).
2
Intermediate in character between P. camtschatica and P. ornata (sensu Mayer, 1910).
3
Fedele (1937b) mentions bilobate rhopalar lappets, and 2–4 lappets in each of the 16 velar lobes (see also Fig. 395 of Mayer, 1910).