World Register of Introduced Marine Species (WRiMS) - Porpita porpita (Linnaeus, 1758)

(of Medusa porpita 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.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 659 [details] Available for editors

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Type data

Type locality contained in Indian Ocean

type locality contained in Indian Ocean [details]

Descriptive notes

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details]

Taxonomic citation

Schuchert, P.; Choong, H.; Galea, H.; Hoeksema, B.; Lindsay, D.; Manko, M.; Pica, D. (2025). World Hydrozoa Database. Porpita porpita (Linnaeus, 1758). Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=117831 on 2025-07-15

Taxonomic edit history

Date

action

2004-12-21 15:54:05Z

created

van der Land, Jacob

Licensing

The webpage text is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License

[taxonomic tree]

Nomenclature

original description (of Porpita pacifica 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): Atlas Zoophytes pl. 7 figs 3, 3’ [details]

original description (of Medusa porpita 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.]. Impensis Direct. Laurentii Salvii. Holmiae [Stockholm]. 1(10) [iii], 824 p., available online at https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/726886
page(s): 659 [details] Available for editors

[request]

original description (of Medusa umbella Müller, 1776) Müller, O. F. (1776). Beschreibung zwoer Medusen. Beschaftigungen der Berlinischen Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde. 2: 290 - 297, pl. 9., available online at http://ds.ub.uni-bielefeld.de/viewer/image/1921382_002/340/#topDocAnchor
page(s): 297 [details]

original description (of Porpita indica Lamarck, 1801) Lamarck, J. B. (1801). Système des animaux sans vertèbres, ou tableau général des classes, des ordres et des genres de ces animaux. Published by the author and Deterville, Paris. : viii + 432 pp., available online at http://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/14117719
page(s): 355 [details]

original description (of Porpita appendiculata Bosc, 1802) Bosc, L.A.G. (1801). Histoire Naturelle des Crustacés Contenant leur Description et leurs Moeurs; avec Figures Dessinées, d'Après Nature. Tome second. Paris: Chez Deterville. 1–296, pls. 9–18., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27817320
page(s): 55, pl. 18 figs 5-6. [details]

original description (of Porpita radiata Bory de Saint-Vincent, 1804) Bory De Saint-Vincent J.B.G.M. (1804). Voyage dans les quatre principales îles des mers d'Afrique : fait par ordre du gouvernement, pendant les années neuf et dix de la République (1801 et 1802), 3 text volumes & 1 plate volume. F. Buisson, Paris. , available online at https://numelyo.bm-lyon.fr/f_view/BML:BML_00GOO0100137001100314462
page(s): vol. 1, page 99, pl. 5. figs 2A-D [details]

original description (of Porpita gigantea Péron & Lesueur, 1807) Péron, F. [& L. Freycinet]. (1807-1816). 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. 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. 31, figs. 6, 6a-e [details]

original description (of Porpita forskalea Oken, 1815) Oken, L. (1815-1816). Lehrbuch der Naturgeschichte. Dritter Theil: Zoologie. Erste Abtheilung: Fleischlose Thiere,Leipzig: C.H. Reclam & Jena: A. Schmid, [book (3rd vol part one, of 3 vols, including plates atlas of T.1, 1813]. xxviii + 842 pp. + xviii, 40 pls. L [copepods 180-184, 357-359, 4 plates]., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.166403
page(s): 111 [details]

original description (of Porpita glandifera Lamarck, 1816) Lamarck, J.B.P. de. (1815-1822). Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres, présentant les caractères généraux et particuliers de ces animaux, leur distribution, leurs classes, leurs familles, leurs genres, et la citation des principales espèces qui s'y rapportent; précédée d'une introduction offrant la détermination des caractères essentiels de l'animal, sa distinction du végétal et des autres corps naturels; enfin, l'exposition des principes fondamentaux de la zoologie. In: Histoire naturelle des animaux sans vertèbres. 5; Paris. Paris: 7 volumes. Vol. 1 [Introduction]: Verdière, i-xvi, 1-462 [March 1815]; Vol. 2 [les Polypes, les Radiaires]: Verdière, 1-568 [March 1816]; Vol. 3 [suite des Radiaires; les Tuniciers; les Vers]: Verdière, 1-586 [August, 1816]; Vol. 4: Deterville/Verdière, 1-603 [April 1817]; Vol. 5 [les Arachnides; les Crustacés; les Annélides; les Cirrhipèdes; les Conchiferes]: Paris, Deterville/Verdière, 1-612 [25 July 1818]; Vol. 6(1) [suite des Conchifères; Les Mollusques]: published by the author, i-vi, 1-343 [June 1819]; Vol. 6(2) (suite): published by the author, 1-232 [April 1822]; Vol. 7 (suite): published by the author, 1-711. [August 1822]., available online at https://dx.doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.40014
page(s): Tome 2, p. 485 [details]

original description (of Porpita granulata Cranch, 1818) Cranch J. (1818). A general notice of the animals, etc. Tuckey's Narrative of an expedition to explore the River Zaire... in 1816... Appendix 4, pp. 407-419. , available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/21959951
page(s): 418 [details]

original description (of Porpita coerulea Eschscholtz, 1825) Eschscholtz, Johann Friedrich von. (1825). Bericht über die zoologische Ausbeute während der Reise von Kronstadt bis St. Peter und Paul. Isis von Oken. 1825(6): 733-747, plate V., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27509188
page(s): 744 [details]

original description (of Porpita globosa Eschscholtz, 1825) Eschscholtz, Johann Friedrich von. (1825). Bericht über die zoologische Ausbeute während der Reise von Kronstadt bis St. Peter und Paul. Isis von Oken. 1825(6): 733-747, plate V., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27509188
page(s): 744 [details]

original description (of Porpita ramifera Eschscholtz, 1825) Eschscholtz, Johann Friedrich von. (1825). Bericht über die zoologische Ausbeute während der Reise von Kronstadt bis St. Peter und Paul. Isis von Oken. 1825(6): 733-747, plate V., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/27509188
page(s): 745 [details]

original description (of Porpita chrysocoma 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): Atlas Zoophytes pl. 7 figs 1, 1' [details]

original description (of Porpita atlantica 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): Atlas Zoophytes, pl. 7 fig. 2. [details]

original description (of Porpita moneta Risso, 1827) Risso, A. (1826-1827). Histoire naturelle des principales productions de l'Europe Méridionale et particulièrement de celles des environs de Nice et des Alpes Maritimes. [book series]. 400 pp., 13 pls. [volumes 1-5. Paris, F.G. Levrault. vol. 3. Mammifères. Oiseaux. Poissons / vol. 4. Mollusques. Annélides / vol. 5. Crustacés. Myriapodes, scorpionides, arachnides et acarides. Insectes. Vers intestinaux. Radiaires. Zoophytes]., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/58984
page(s): 304 [details]

original description (of Polybrachionia linnaeana Guilding, 1828) Guilding, L. 1828. Observations on the zoology of the Carribaean Sea. Zoological Journal 3: 403-408., available online at http://archive.org/stream/zoologicaljourna03lond#page/403/mode/1up
page(s): 404, pl. 10 figs. 1-2. [details]

original description (of Porpita forskahli 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): 493 [details]

original description (of Porpita reinwardtii 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): 493 [details]

original description (of Porpita kuhlii 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): 494 [details]

original description (of Porpita mediterranea 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): 177 [details]

original description (of Ratis medusae Lesson, 1830) Lesson, R.P. (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, par M. L.I. Duperrey. Zoologie 2,. Paris, 1826-1830. (vol. 2, pt 2, 2e division, 1830)., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38663489
page(s): 60; note: see https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38663190 [details]

original description (of Acies palpebrans Lesson, 1830) Lesson, R.P. (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, par M. L.I. Duperrey. Zoologie 2,. Paris, 1826-1830. (vol. 2, pt 2, 2e division, 1830)., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38663489
page(s): 61; note: see https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/38663191 [details]

original description (of Porpita lutkeana 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. Recueil des Actes de la Séance Publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg. 1834: 201-275., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10765514
page(s): 241 [details]

original description (of Chrysomitra striata Gegenbaur, 1857) Gegenbaur, C. (1857). Versuch eines Systems der Medusen, mit Beschreibung neuer oder wenig gekannter Formen; zugleich ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der Fauna des Mittelmeeres. Zeitschrift für wissenschaftliche Zoologie. Leipzig 8: 202-273, pls 7-9., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/13864647
page(s): 232; pl. 7, figs 10-11 [medusa] [details]

original description (of Discalia primordialis Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). System der Siphonophoren auf phylogenetischer Grundlage entworfen. Jenaische Zeitschrift für Naturwissenschaft. 22: 1-46., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12007523
page(s): 30 [details]

original description (of Disconalia pectyllis Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology. 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485
page(s): 48 [details]

original description (of Porpita fungia Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology. 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485
page(s): 67, pl. 45 [details]

original description (of Porpitella pectanthis Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology. 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485
page(s): 64, pl. 46 [details]

original description (of Disconalia ramifera Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology. 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485
page(s): 357 [details]

original description (of Holothuria denudata 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 Holothuria nuda Gmelin, 1791) Gmelin, J. F. (1791). Vermes. In: Gmelin J.F. (Ed.) Caroli a Linnaei Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, Ed. 13. Tome 1(6). G.E. Beer, Lipsiae [Leipzig]. pp. 3021-3910. Systema Naturae. Linneaeus (ed.). Ed. 13. 1: pars. 6., available online at http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/83098#5 [details]

original description (of Porpita radiata 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. Recueil des Actes de la Séance Publique de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences de St. Pétersbourg. 1834: 201-275., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/10765514
page(s): 240 [details]

original description (of Disconalia gastroblasta Haeckel, 1888) Haeckel, E. (1888). Report on the Siphonophorae. Report on the Scientific Results of the Voyage of H.M.S. Challenger during the years 1873–76. Zoology. 28 (part 77): i-viii, 1-380, pl. 1-50., available online at https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3155485
page(s): 48, pl. 49 figs 7-12, pl. 50. [details]

basis of record van der Land, J.; Vervoort, W.; Cairns, S.D.; Schuchert, P. (2001). Hydrozoa, in: Costello, M.J. et al. (Ed.) (2001). 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, 50: pp. 112-120 (look up in IMIS) [details]

Taxonomy

redescription Schuchert, P. (2010). The European athecate hydroids and their medusae (Hydrozoa, Cnidaria): Capitata Part 2. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 117: 337-555., available online at https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.part.117793
page(s): 472 [details]

redescription Calder, D. R. (1988). Shallow-water hydroids of Bermuda. The Athecatae. Royal Ontario Museum Life Sciences Contributions. 148: 1-107.
page(s): 77 [details] Available for editors

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Other

context 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). The sea shore ecology of Hong Kong. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. 350 pp. [details]

context source (Bermuda) Calder, D. R. (1988). Shallow-water hydroids of Bermuda. The Athecatae. Royal Ontario Museum Life Sciences Contributions. 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 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. China Science Press. 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. in: Gordon, D.P. (Ed.) (2009). New Zealand inventory of biodiversity: 1. Kingdom Animalia: Radiata, Lophotrochozoa, Deuterostomia. :59-101., available online at https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/8431 [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. Thalassia Salent. 24: 47-296 (look up in IMIS) [details]

Present

Present in aphia/obis/gbif/idigbio

Inaccurate

Introduced: alien

Containing type locality

From editor or global species database

Biology colonial [details]

Distribution circum-(sub)tropical [details]

Unreviewed

Habitat pelagic [details]

Definitions

Language	Name
English	umbel button jelly [from synonym]raft hydroid [from synonym]blue button	[details]
German	Tellerqualle [from synonym]Pazifische Floßqualle [from synonym]Blauknopf	[details]
Japanese	ギンカクラゲ	[details]

To Barcode of Life (14 barcodes)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (11 publications)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (37 publications) (from synonym Porpita umbella (Müller, 1776))
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (49 publications) (from synonym Porpita pacifica Lesson, 1826)
To Biodiversity Heritage Library (72 publications) (from synonym Porpita mediterranea Eschscholtz, 1829)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL) (from synonym Porpita pacifica Lesson, 1826)
To Biological Information System for Marine Life (BISMaL)
To European Nucleotide Archive, ENA (Porpita porpita)
To GenBank (16 nucleotides; 5 proteins) (from synonym Medusa porpita Linnaeus, 1758)
To GenBank (16 nucleotides; 5 proteins)
To PESI
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (18 records)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (30 records) (from synonym Porpita pacifica Lesson, 1826)
To USNM Invertebrate Zoology Cnidaria Collection (5 records) (from synonym Porpita umbella (Müller, 1776))
To ITIS

From editor or global species database

Porpita porpita, mouth of Brunswick River, New South Wales, Australia

Porpita porpita

Porpita porpita medusa from Bouillon (1978d)

Porpita porpita, mouth of Brunswick River, New South Wales, Australia