WoRMS taxon details
Holotype MONZ TePapa CO.001716, geounit New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone [details]
From editor or global species database
Original description FIELD MORPHOLOGY: The body is shaped like a flying saucer, with a conspicuous circular furrow separating the sculpted outer margin from the broad shallow central dome. Typically 21-23 marginal tentacles, in alternation with as many statocysts. Stomach shallowly four-leaf clover-shaped at the base. Gonads oval, discoid. Radial septa broad, diverging somewhat centripetally, entirely covered by thin portion of circular muscle; thick portion of circular muscle entire, without radial furrows, equal in width to thin portion. Colouration quite transparent, with the body and stomach lacking pigmentation. Diameter to about 70mm.
MAY BE CONFUSED WITH: Atolla clara is most similar to A. wyvillei, in which the stomach is large and clover-shaped. However, A. clara lacks the pigmentation typical of other Atolla species, and is therefore immediately distinguishable.
NOTES: Atolla clara is most similar morphologically to A. wyvillei, but differs from the latter in its complete lack of pigmentation; its smooth central disk; lack of furrowing on the pedalia; discoid, oval gonads; and the radial septa completely covered by the coronal muscle.
This species has been found in New Zealand waters and should be expected in Tasman samples as well. [details]
From editor or global species database
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