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WoRMS taxon detailsVelella velella (Linnaeus, 1758)
 117832 (urn:lsid:marinespecies.org:taxname:117832)
accepted
Species
Armenista sigmoides Haeckel, 1888 · unaccepted (synonym)
Holothuria spirans Forsskål, 1775 · unaccepted (synonym)
Medusa pocillum Montagu, 1815 · unaccepted (synonym)
Medusa velella Linnaeus, 1758 · unaccepted (basionym)
Rataria cordata Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Rataria mitrata Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella antarctica Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella aurora Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella australis de Haan, 1827 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella caurina Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella cyanea Lesson, 1826 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella emarginata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella indica Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella lata Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella limbosa Lamarck, 1816 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella meridionalis Fewkes, 1889 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella mutica Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella oblonga Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821 · unaccepted > junior subjective synonym (synonym)
Velella oxyothone Brandt, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella oxyothone var. brachyothone Brandt, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella oxyothone var. oxyothone Brandt, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella pacifica de Haan, 1827 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella patellaris Brandt, 1835 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella pyramidalis Cranch in Tuckey, 1818 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella radackiana de Haan, 1827 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella sandwichiana de Haan, 1827 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella scaphidia Peron & Lesueur, 1807 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella septentrionalis Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella sinistra Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella tentaculata Lamarck, 1801 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella tropica Eschscholtz, 1829 · unaccepted (synonym)
Velella vella (Linnaeus, 1758) · unaccepted (misspelling)
marine,
(of Medusa velella Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 660 [details] Available for editors  [request]
Description Resembles Porpita but with triangular sail on upper surface, to 4 cm. Colour blue. Habitat: floating on sea surface....
Description Resembles Porpita but with triangular sail on upper surface, to 4 cm. Colour blue. Habitat: floating on sea surface. Distribution: pantropical (Richmond, 1997). [details] Distribution circum-(sub)tropical
Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details]
Schuchert, P.; Choong, H.; Galea, H.; Hoeksema, B.; Lindsay, D.; Manko, M.; Pica, D. (2025). World Hydrozoa Database. Velella velella (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=117832 on 2025-07-17
Date action by
Nomenclatureoriginal description
(of Holothuria spirans Forsskål, 1775) Forskål P. (1775). Descriptiones Animalium, Avium, Amphibiorum, Piscium, Insectorum, Vermium; quae in Itinere Orientali Observavit Petrus Forskål. Post Mortem Auctoris editit Carsten Niebuhr. Adjuncta est materia Medica Kahirina. Mölleri, Hafniae, 19 + xxxiv + 164 pp. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2088059 [details]  original description (of Velella lata Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) Chamisso, Adelbertus De & Eysenhardt, Carolus Guilelmus. (1821). De animalibus quibusdam e classe vermium Linneana, in circumnavigatione Terrae, auspicante Comite N. Romanoff, duce Ottone di Kotzebue, annis 1815-1818 peracta, observatis. Fasciculus secundus, reliquos vermes continens. <em>Nova Acta physico-medica Academiae Cesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae.</em> 10: 33., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37020829 page(s): 364, pl. 32 fig. 3 A-B [details] original description (of Medusa velella Linnaeus, 1758) Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 page(s): 660 [details] Available for editors [request]original description (of Velella mutica Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 page(s): 355 [details] original description (of Velella tentaculata Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. <em>Published by the author and Deterville, Paris.</em> : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719 page(s): 355 [details] original description (of Medusa pocillum Montagu, 1815) Montagu G. (1816). An account of some new and rare marine British shells and animals. <em>Transactions of the Linnean Society of London.</em> 11(2): 179-204, pls 12-14 ["1815"; 24 January 1816]., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/756731 page(s): 201, pl. 14 fig. 4. [details] original description (of Velella limbosa Lamarck, 1816) Lamarck, [J.-B. M.] de. (1816). <i>Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres</i>. Tome second, 566 pp. Paris, Verdière. , available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/47698 page(s): 482 [details] original description (of Velella scaphidia Peron & Lesueur, 1807) Péron, F. [& L. Freycinet]. (1807-1816). <i>Voyage de découvertes aux Terres Australes, exécuté par ordre de sa Majesté l'Empereur et Roi,. ... pendant les années 1800. 1801, 1802, 1803 et 1804</i>. Paris. I: xv + 496 pp. [1807]; II: xxxi + 471 pp. [1816]; Atlas, 65 pls & maps. , available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.44096 page(s): pl. 30 figs 6, 6a. [details] original description (of Velella pyramidalis Cranch in Tuckey, 1818) Tuckey, J. K. (1818). A general notice of the animals taken by Mr. John Cranch, during the expedition to explore the source of the River Zaire. Appendix 4 [pp. 407-419]. <em>In: Narrative of an expedition to explore the river Zaire, usually called the Congo, in south Africa, in 1816. John Murray, London.</em> i-lxxxii + 1-498, 14 pls. [Fishes are on pp. 409-410 by W. E. Leach.]. page(s): 419 (author of name: Cranch) [details] original description (of Velella oblonga Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) Chamisso, Adelbertus De & Eysenhardt, Carolus Guilelmus. (1821). De animalibus quibusdam e classe vermium Linneana, in circumnavigatione Terrae, auspicante Comite N. Romanoff, duce Ottone di Kotzebue, annis 1815-1818 peracta, observatis. Fasciculus secundus, reliquos vermes continens. <em>Nova Acta physico-medica Academiae Cesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae.</em> 10: 33., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37020829 page(s): 364, pl. 32, fig. 2 A-C. [details] original description (of Velella sinistra Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) Chamisso, Adelbertus De & Eysenhardt, Carolus Guilelmus. (1821). De animalibus quibusdam e classe vermium Linneana, in circumnavigatione Terrae, auspicante Comite N. Romanoff, duce Ottone di Kotzebue, annis 1815-1818 peracta, observatis. Fasciculus secundus, reliquos vermes continens. <em>Nova Acta physico-medica Academiae Cesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae.</em> 10: 33., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37020829 page(s): 363, pl. 32 fig. 1 [details] original description (of Velella emarginata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) Quoy, J.R.C. & J.P. Gaimard. (1824-1826). Zoologie. <em>In: L. de Freycinet (ed.), Voyage au tour du monde fait par ordre du roi, sur les corvettes de S. M: l'Uranie et la Physicienne pendant les années 1817 à 1820.</em> iv + 712 pp. [pp. 1-328, 1824; 329-616, 1825; 617-664, 1826]., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40871044 page(s): 586, pl. 86 fig. 9. [details] original description (of Velella cyanea Lesson, 1826) Duperrey, L.-I.; Arthus Bertrand (Firm); Bory de Saint-Vincent; Brongniart, A.; Dumont d'Urville, J.-S.-C.; Garnot, P.; Guérin-Méneville, F.-É.; Lesson, R. P.; ;. (1825-1830). Voyage autour du monde : exécuté par ordre du roi, sur la corvette de Sa Majesté, la Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824, et 1825. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/57936 page(s): Zoophytes, pl. 6, fig. 3, 4. [details] original description (of Velella australis de Haan, 1827) de Haan, W. 1827. Verhandeling over de Rangschikking der Velellen, Porpiten und Physalien. Bijdragen tot de Natuurkundige Wetenschappen, Amsterdam 2: 489-503., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16107302 page(s): 489 [details] original description (of Velella pacifica de Haan, 1827) de Haan, W. 1827. Verhandeling over de Rangschikking der Velellen, Porpiten und Physalien. Bijdragen tot de Natuurkundige Wetenschappen, Amsterdam 2: 489-503., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16107302 page(s): 490 [details] original description (of Velella radackiana de Haan, 1827) de Haan, W. 1827. Verhandeling over de Rangschikking der Velellen, Porpiten und Physalien. Bijdragen tot de Natuurkundige Wetenschappen, Amsterdam 2: 489-503., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16107302 page(s): 490 [details] original description (of Velella sandwichiana de Haan, 1827) de Haan, W. 1827. Verhandeling over de Rangschikking der Velellen, Porpiten und Physalien. Bijdragen tot de Natuurkundige Wetenschappen, Amsterdam 2: 489-503., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/16107302 page(s): 491; note: De Haan (1827) refers to Esch[sc]holtz for this name, but Eschscholtz di apparently not introduce this name. [details] original description (of Rataria cordata Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 167, pl. 16 fig. 1 [details] original description (of Rataria mitrata Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 168, pl. 16 fig. 2 [details] original description (of Velella aurora Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 171 [details] original description (of Velella septentrionalis Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 171, pl. 15 fig. 1 [details] original description (of Velella caurina Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 173; pl. 15, fig. 2 [details] original description (of Velella tropica Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 171, pl. 15 fig. 1 [details] original description (of Velella indica Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 175; pl. 15, fig. 5 [details] original description (of Velella antarctica Eschscholtz, 1829) Eschscholtz, F. (1829). System der Acalephen. Eine ausführliche Beschreibung aller medusenartigen Strahltiere. Ferdinand Dümmler, Berlin, pp. 1-190, 116 pls., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10665047 page(s): 175 [details] original description (of Velella patellaris Brandt, 1835) Brandt, J. F. (1834-1835). Prodromus descriptionis animalium ab H. Mertensio observatorum : fascic. I. Polypos, Acalephas Discophoras et Siphonophoras, nec non Echinodermata continens. <em>Recueil des Actes de la Séance Publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg.</em> 1834: 201-275., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10765514 page(s): 238 [details] original description (of Velella oxyothone Brandt, 1835) Brandt, J. F. (1834-1835). Prodromus descriptionis animalium ab H. Mertensio observatorum : fascic. I. Polypos, Acalephas Discophoras et Siphonophoras, nec non Echinodermata continens. <em>Recueil des Actes de la Séance Publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg.</em> 1834: 201-275., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10765514 page(s): 239 [details] original description (of Velella oxyothone var. brachyothone Brandt, 1835) Brandt, J. F. (1834-1835). Prodromus descriptionis animalium ab H. Mertensio observatorum : fascic. I. Polypos, Acalephas Discophoras et Siphonophoras, nec non Echinodermata continens. <em>Recueil des Actes de la Séance Publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg.</em> 1834: 201-275., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10765514 page(s): 239 [details] original description (of Armenista sigmoides Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. <em>Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology.</em> 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485 page(s): 84, pl. 43 [details] original description (of Velella meridionalis Fewkes, 1889) Fewkes, J. W. (1889). New invertebrata from the coast of California. <em>Bulletin of the Essex Institute, Salem.</em> 21(7,8,9): 99-146, plates 1-7., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/11711150 page(s): 112, pl. 1 figs 1-3, pl. 2 fig. 3. [details] basis of record van der Land, J.; Vervoort, W.; Cairns, S.D.; Schuchert, P. (2001). Hydrozoa, <B><I>in</I></B>: Costello, M.J. <i>et al.</i> (Ed.) (2001). <i>European register of marine species: a check-list of the marine species in Europe and a bibliography of guides to their identification. Collection Patrimoines Naturels,</i> 50: pp. 112-120 (look up in IMIS) [details] Taxonomyredescription
Schuchert, P. 2012. North-West European Athecate Hydroids and their Medusae. Synopses of the British Fauna (New Series) 59. The Linnean Society of London, London, pp. i-viii, 1-364. page(s): 168, fig. 157 [details] Available for editors [request]redescription Schuchert, P. (2010). The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Capitata Part 2. <em>Revue Suisse de Zoologie.</em> 117: 337-555., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.117793 page(s): 476, figs 68-69 [details] redescription Calder, D. R. (1988). Shallow-water hydroids of Bermuda. The Athecatae. <em>Royal Ontario Museum Life Sciences Contributions.</em> 148: 1-107. page(s): 81 [details] Available for editors [request]Othercontext source (Deepsea)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO. The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS), available online at http://www.iobis.org/ [details]
context source (HKRMS) Morton, B. & Morton, J. (1983). <i>The sea shore ecology of Hong Kong</i>. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. 350 pp. [details] context source (Bermuda) Calder, D. R. (1988). Shallow-water hydroids of Bermuda. The Athecatae. <em>Royal Ontario Museum Life Sciences Contributions.</em> 148: 1-107. [details] Available for editors [request]context source (Hexacorallia) Fautin, Daphne G. (2013). Hexacorallians of the World. (look up in IMIS) [details] additional source Richmond, M. (Ed.) (1997). A guide to the seashores of Eastern Africa and the Western Indian Ocean islands. Sida/Department for Research Cooperation, SAREC: Stockholm, Sweden. ISBN 91-630-4594-X. 448 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] additional source Muller, Y. (2004). Faune et flore du littoral du Nord, du Pas-de-Calais et de la Belgique: inventaire. [Coastal fauna and flora of the Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Belgium: inventory]. <em>Commission Régionale de Biologie Région Nord Pas-de-Calais: France.</em> 307 pp., available online at http://www.vliz.be/imisdocs/publications/145561.pdf [details] additional source Linnaeus, C. (1758). Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. [The system of nature through the three kingdoms of nature, according to classes, orders, genera, species, with characters, differences, synonyms, places.]. <em>Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm].</em> 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886 [details] Available for editors [request]additional source Bouillon, J.; Boero, F. (2000). Synopsis of the families and genera of the Hydromedusae of the world, with a list of the worldwide species. <i>Thalassia Salent. 24</i>: 47-296 (look up in IMIS) [details] additional source Calder, D. R. and S. D. Cairns. 2009. Hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) of the Gulf of Mexico, Pp. 381–394 in Felder, D.L. and D.K. Camp (eds.), Gulf of Mexico–Origins, Waters, and Biota. Biodiversity. Texas A&M Press, College Station, Texas. [details] additional source Liu, J.Y. [Ruiyu] (ed.). (2008). Checklist of marine biota of China seas. <em>China Science Press.</em> 1267 pp. (look up in IMIS) [details] Available for editors [request]additional source Cairns, S.D., L. Gershwin, F.J. Brook, P. Pugh, E.W. Dawson, O.V. Ocaña, W. Vervoort, G. Williams, J.E. Watson, D.M. Opresko, P. Schuchert, P.M. Hine, D.P. Gordon, H.I. Campbell, A.J. Wright, J.A.Sánchez & D.G. Fautin. (2009). Phylum Cnidaria: corals, medusae, hydroids, myxozoans. <em>in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia.</em> :59-101., available online at https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/8431 [details] Available for editors [request] Present Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio Inaccurate Introduced: alien Containing type locality
From editor or global species database
Description Resembles Porpita but with triangular sail on upper surface, to 4 cm. Colour blue. Habitat: floating on sea surface. Distribution: pantropical (Richmond, 1997). [details]Unreviewed
Biology colonial [details]Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details] Habitat pelagic [details]
Marine Life Information Network - UK
To Barcode of Life (23 barcodes) To Biodiversity Heritage Library (17 publications) (from synonym Velella cyanea Lesson, 1826) To Biodiversity Heritage Library (3 publications) (from synonym Armenista sigmoides Haeckel, 1888) To Biodiversity Heritage Library (34 publications) To Biodiversity Heritage Library (38 publications) (from synonym Velella lata Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL) To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Velella velella) To GenBank (93 nucleotides; 73 proteins) To GenBank (93 nucleotides; 73 proteins) (from synonym Medusa velella Linnaeus, 1758) To Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI) To PESI To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (212 records) To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (77 records) (from synonym Velella lata Chamisso & Eysenhardt, 1821) To ITIS From editor or global species database
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