Celebrity dolphin of Venice doesn’t need special protection – except from humans
A dolphin returning to a historic habitat necessitates management of people, not wildlife, researchers monitoring solitary bottlenose dolphin in Venice say
Frontiers
video:
Bottlenose dolphin Mimmo swimming in the San Marco Basin, Venice.
view moreCredit: Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia
Bottlenose dolphins usually live in small to medium-sized groups in coastal and open-sea waters, but every once in a while, a dolphin might leave its pod behind, flock to coastal areas and approach human settlements. While this is a relatively rare occurrence, cases of dolphins entering coastal or urban areas are well-documented.
When a bottlenose dolphin nicknamed Mimmo was first spotted in the lagoon of Venice last summer, local researchers jumped into action. The team has now published a Frontiers in Ethology article in which they describe their monitoring activities and the dolphin’s movements over several months, while also assessing management scenarios.
“We present the case of one of the most charismatic animals in one of the most iconic cities: a solitary dolphin in Venice,” said senior author Dr Guido Pietroluongo, a conservation veterinary pathologist at the Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science at the University of Padova. “Our observations document this animal’s remarkable adaptation to an unusual context and highlight the need to manage human behavior to ensure its welfare.”
The Dolphin of Venice
Two dolphin species, common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins, used to be abundant throughout the Adriatic Sea, including in the Venetian Lagoon. However, common dolphins virtually disappeared prior to the 1970s due to human impact. Bottlenose dolphins, which are more adaptable and resilient than common dolphins, still occur in the Adriatic Sea, but have been avoiding lagoon waters in recent decades.
Monitoring of the solitary bottlenose dolphin started as soon as it was first sighted in the Venetian Lagoon in June 2025. Scientists observed it from boats every week after, with support from authorities and citizens. Over a few months, the dolphin moved from the southern end of the lagoon towards Venice at the northern end of the lagoon, where it is still present.
“Observing bottlenose dolphins in urban areas is not particularly surprising, as they are extremely adaptable and opportunistic marine mammals,” said Pietroluongo. Dolphins have historically dwelt in the area and are adapted to living there. “Mimmo appears healthy and is regularly observed feeding on mullets. Since his arrival in the lagoon, any behavior displayed has been typical of the species.”
More worrying than the presence of the dolphin in the lagoon is its stay in the San Marco Basin, right in front of San Marco Square, the city’s busiest and most popular tourist area. Staying this close to a hotspot of human activity comes with several risks the dolphin would be facing to a lesser extent in the open seas, for instance harm caused by boat propellers. Yet, in open waters dolphins would also encounter significant anthropogenic threats – primarily from fisheries – the researchers pointed out.
People management
In Venice, the greatest danger the dolphin faces comes from humans acting inappropriately towards a wild animal, particularly through irresponsible driving of boats. Measures like controlling boat speed and close approaches are necessary. “This situation is primarily about managing human behavior rather than managing the dolphin,” Dr Giovanni Bearzi, the first author of the study who has been studying Adriatic dolphins for four decades, pointed out. “Recognizing the priority of safeguarding a protected species, treating it as a wild animal, and behaving in an informed, aware, and responsible way is key in wildlife management,” noted Bearzi. Conservation action should be guided by experts, not sensationalist narratives, the team said.
Effective measures to safeguard both the dolphin and people include a ban on harmful interactions and strictly enforcing existing regulations – under which any disturbance of a wild, protected animal is legally prohibited. This includes attempts to touch or feed the dolphin. Such measures are vital as early attempts to drive the dolphin back into the open sea using acoustic deterrents proved unsuccessful and aren’t advisable. Capturing the dolphin to displace it, on the other hand, would be bad practice which harbors more risks than opportunities.
“What is truly unusual is not the dolphin’s presence, but the persistent difficulty humans have in respecting such animals today,” Bearzi concluded. “We need to appreciate the opportunities to coexist with and enjoy wildlife. Historical and contemporary documentation clearly shows that dolphins have accompanied human maritime activities for millennia, yet we still struggle to coexist with them appropriately.”
Mimmo in the San Marco Basin [VIDEO]
Mimmo swimming in Venice.
Credit
Fondazione Musei Civici di Venezia
Bottlenose dolphin Mimmo swimming close to San Marco Square.
Credit
Fondazione Musei Civici di VeneziaFondazione Musei Civici di Venezia
Journal
Frontiers in Ethology
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
The 'dolphin of Venice': management of a solitary bottlenose dolphin in the Venetian Lagoon
Article Publication Date
25-Feb-2026
E-waste chemicals are appearing in
dolphins and porpoises
Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) are critical components of laptop, television and smartphone screens. Given their ubiquity in the environment, these compounds are considered persistent pollutants, posing threats to marine life that scientists want to understand. Research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology provides initial evidence that LCMs from household electronics or electronic waste (e-waste) can accumulate in dolphin and porpoise tissues, including blubber, muscle, and brain, demonstrating their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
“Our research reveals that LCMs from everyday electronics are not just pollution — they're accumulating in the brains of endangered dolphins and porpoises,” says Yuhe He, a researcher at City University of Hong Kong and a corresponding author of the study. “This is a wake-up call: The chemicals powering our devices are now infiltrating marine life, and we must act now on e-waste to protect ocean health and, ultimately, ourselves.”
LCMs control how light passes through handheld and large display screens, producing the sharp images consumers have grown to expect. Given these devices’ widespread use, the chemicals have been found in indoor air, dust and even wastewater, eventually ending up in coastal environments. Previous studies also found that some LCMs pose health risks to humans and some aquatic species. However, less is known about how these pollutants move through marine food chains and whether they reach top predators. To determine this, Bo Liang, He and colleagues analyzed tissue samples from Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins and finless porpoises collected between 2007 and 2021 in the South China Sea, an important habitat for these endangered marine animals.
They screened the dolphin and porpoise blubber, muscle, liver, kidney and brain tissue samples for 62 individual LCMs. The analysis indicates that:
- Four compounds accounted for the majority of what was detected. Prior studies identified similar LCMs in the fish and invertebrates that these dolphins and porpoises eat, which the researchers say supports the idea that the pollutants enter through their diet rather than directly from water.
- Most of the LCMs found in dolphins and porpoises likely originated from television and computer screens, with smaller contributions from smartphones.
- Although the contaminants were most concentrated in blubber — a fatty tissue that often stores pollutants — the researchers were surprised to discover small amounts in other organs, particularly the brain, revealing potential health hazards such as neurotoxic risks.
- LCM levels in porpoise blubber have changed over time, generally increasing when liquid crystal display use was expanding and then declining in recent years as manufacturers have shifted to more LED displays.
In additional lab tests, several common LCMs, including the major four in these samples, altered gene activity such as those related to DNA repair and cell division in cultured dolphin cells. These results suggest that these compounds could negatively impact marine mammals. So, the researchers call for further investigation into the effects of LCM pollution on wildlife, highlighting the need for urgent regulatory action and improved e-waste disposal.
The authors acknowledge funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, Ecology and Enhancement Fund, and Marine Conservation and Enhancement Fund, a Shantou University Scientific Research Initiation Grant, the National Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China, the Key Program of Marine Economy Development (Six Marine Industries) Special Foundation of the Department of Natural Resources of Guangdong Province, and the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government.
The paper’s abstract will be available on Feb. 25 at 8 a.m. Eastern time here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.est.5c17767
###
Journal
Environmental Science & Technology
Article Title
Liquid Crystal Monomers Released from LCD Displays Accumulate in Endangered Marine Cetaceans Triggering Health Concerns
Article Publication Date
25-Feb-2026
Vessel traffic alters behavior, stress and population trends of marine megafauna
An analysis of more than 40 years of published scientific literature shows vessel traffic can influence animal behavior, communication, stress physiology, and even long-term population trends.
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
image:
A bottlenose dolphin jumps in a vessel wake off the coast of Miami, Florida
view moreCredit: Claudia Campi, Shark Research and Conservation Program, University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science
MIAMI — A new study provides a comprehensive global synthesis of how vessel traffic affects large marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins, seals, manatees, sea turtles, sharks and rays.
Drawing on over four decades of published scientific research, the meta-analysis combined findings from more than 200 peer-reviewed studies conducted around the world. In total, nearly 1,900 comparisons were compiled between scenarios with and without vessel presence, allowing for a robust assessment of how vessels impact marine wildlife.
The analysis examined documented responses to vessel activity across various species, geographic regions, and types of behavioral and physiological reactions. The results indicate that vessel traffic can alter animal behavior, disrupt communication, and affect stress physiology. Additionally, these disturbances may influence long-term population trends in marine megafauna.
Many species are especially vulnerable to vessel disturbance because they are long-lived, reproduce slowly and rely on coastal and surface waters where boat traffic is concentrated. By identifying consistent patterns across decades of research, the findings offer insights to inform conservation policy and marine management.
The researchers found that exposure to boats consistently alters how large marine animals behave and function.
“Even when vessels do not directly strike animals, their presence alone can disrupt feeding, movement, communication, and stress levels. These small, repeated disturbances can add up over time and affect populations,” said Julia Saltzman, the lead author of the study and a doctoral student in the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science and the Department of Biology at the College of Arts and Sciences.
They also identified uneven research coverage among species groups.
“Some groups, particularly sea turtles, show stronger responses to vessel disturbance, while others, including large fishes, sharks and rays, remain relatively understudied despite frequent spatial overlap with vessel activity,” said Emily Yeager, co-author of the study and a doctoral candidate in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the Rosenstiel School and the Abess Center for Ecosystem Science and Policy.
The analysis found that species already listed as threatened or endangered may be more strongly affected by vessel disturbance. Animals at higher risk of extinction often exhibited larger or more consequential behavioral or biological responses, suggesting that vessel activity can intensify existing conservation threats.
“Because vessel activity and wildlife distributions shift across space and time, static management approaches are not always sufficient to protect species from disturbance,” said Catherine Macdonald, an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy and director of the Shark Research and Conservation Program at the Rosenstiel School. “Dynamic management strategies, including seasonal speed restrictions, adaptive buffer distances and targeted closures of key habitats, can provide flexible, evidence-based tools to reduce vessel impacts while allowing continued human use of the ocean.”
The study, “Charting the Course for Management: A Global Analysis of Effects of Vessels on Marine Megafauna,” was published February 24, 2026, in npj Ocean Sustainability (Nature Partner Journals.)
The authors are Julia Saltzman¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵; Emily A. Yeager¹ ³ ⁴; John F. Hlavin¹ ³ ⁴; Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes⁵; Michelle Krumholtz⁵ ⁶; Camille Kynoch⁵ ⁷; Alexa R. Putillo-Wehry⁵; Kiersten Schweizer⁵; Remi Siegel-Ventura⁵; and Catherine Macdonald¹ ³ ⁴.
¹ Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami. ² Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami. ³ Robert. K. Johnson Center for Marine Conservation, Shark Research and Conservation Program, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami,⁴ Field School, Miami, ⁵ Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, ⁶ Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, ⁷ School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
About the University of Miami and Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science
The University of Miami is a private research university and academic health system with a distinct geographic capacity to connect institutions, individuals, and ideas across the hemisphere and around the world. The University’s vibrant academic community comprises 12 schools and colleges serving more than 19,000 undergraduate and graduate students in more than 180 majors and programs. Located within one of the most dynamic and multicultural cities in the world, the University is building new bridges across geographic, cultural, and intellectual borders, bringing a passion for scholarly excellence, a spirit of innovation, and a commitment to tackling the challenges facing our world. The University of Miami is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU).
Founded in 1943, the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is one of the world’s premier research institutions in the continental United States. The School’s basic and applied research programs seek to improve understanding and prediction of Earth’s geological, oceanic, and atmospheric systems by focusing on four key pillars:
*Saving lives through better forecasting of extreme weather and seismic events.
*Feeding the world by developing sustainable wild fisheries and aquaculture programs.
*Unlocking ocean secrets through research on climate, weather, energy and medicine.
*Preserving marine species, including endangered sharks and other fish, as well as protecting and restoring threatened coral reefs. www.earth.miami.edu.
Journal
npj Ocean Sustainability
Method of Research
Literature review
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Charting the Course for Management: A Global Analysis of Effects of Vessels on Marine Megafauna
Article Publication Date
25-Feb-2026
Research confirms that ocean warming causes an annual decline in fish biomass of up to 19.8%
For fisheries management to be effective, plans must be international and account for long‑term biomass loss
Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)
According to a new study by the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC) and the National University of Colombia, chronic ocean warming is driving a nearly 20% annual decline in fish biomass. However, the researchers found that extreme marine heatwaves can sometimes mask this trend by causing temporary population increases in certain areas. The research, conducted in the waters of the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic, and the Northeastern Pacific, is based on the analysis of 702,037 estimates of biomass change from 33,990 fish populations recorded between 1993 and 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere. The collected data are essential for fisheries management and for the conservation of marine ecosystems, which are crucial for feeding the global population.
Marine heatwaves, which are becoming increasingly frequent, do not affect all fish equally: some populations lose out, while others gain. The study shows that it all depends on the thermal comfort zone, i.e., the ideal temperature range in which each species grows and develops best. When a heatwave pushes fish from already warm waters beyond that thermal comfort zone, their biomass can plummet by up to 43.4%. In contrast, populations in colder areas tend to thrive temporarily as temperatures rise, increasing their biomass by up to 176%.
“Although this sudden increase in biomass in cold waters may seem like good news for fisheries, these are transient increases. If managers raise catch quotas based on biomass increases caused by a heatwave, they risk causing the collapse of populations when temperatures return to normal or when the effect of long‑term warming prevails, because these are short‑lived increases,” warns MNCN researcher Shahar Chaikin.
The continued decline in ocean biomass caused by the ongoing rise in temperature is the main stress factor faced by marine species. “When we remove the noise of extreme short‑term weather events, the data show that this warming is associated with a sustained annual decline in biomass of up to 19.8%,” explains Chaikin. “Unlike extreme short‑term weather fluctuations, which can vary dramatically, this chronic warming exerts a constant negative pressure on fish populations in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Atlantic Ocean, and the Northeastern Pacific Ocean,” adds National University of Colombia researcher Juan David González Trujillo.
How to improve the management of fishery resources?
The traditional approach to fisheries management no longer keeps pace with climate change. To safeguard the future of global fishery resources, the authors propose a three‑level framework that combines rapid response, long‑term planning, and international cooperation:
Marine heatwaves can cause drastic and sudden drops in biomass, especially at the warm edges of a species’ range. To facilitate the recovery of these populations, in the short term, it is important to implement ‘climate-ready plans’—immediate protection measures that take effect as soon as these extreme thermal events occur.
Moreover, it is vital not to lose sight of the silent and steady decline in biomass caused by chronic ocean warming. Sustainable management must be structured around the sustained decline that has been documented.
Finally, as species try to remain within their thermal range, they inevitably cross international borders. “A species population may be declining in one country but increasing in another. In this context, static management models are outdated. Effective conservation requires international coordination and joint resource‑management agreements,” concludes Chaikin.
Although populations at the cold edges of their ranges may offer temporary fishing opportunities, these benefits must not distract from the broader crisis. “Managers must balance localized increases with long‑term declines extremely carefully to avoid overexploitation,” says Miguel B. Araújo, also of MNCN‑CSIC. “As ocean warming continues, the only viable strategy is to prioritize long‑term resilience. Management measures must plan for the biomass decline expected in an increasingly warm ocean,” he concludes.
CSIC Comunicación
comunicacion@csic.es
Journal
Nature Ecology & Evolution
Method of Research
News article
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Long‑term warming reduces fish biomass, but heatwaves shift it
Article Publication Date
25-Feb-2026
An endangered natural pharmacy hidden in coral reefs
Coral reefs are teeming with life: they are home to over a third of all marine animal and plant species on Earth, despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. However, this immense diversity is under threat from rising ocean temperatures. Since the 1950s, half of the world’s coral population has already disappeared.
Beyond the reef’s visible inhabitants, countless microorganisms are also under threat. These often live in symbiosis with corals, sponges and other reef dwellers, which benefits them both. To defend against pathogens, predators and competitors, microbes produce a vast arsenal of natural products that could be of great benefit to humankind.
The magnitude of the potential loss of this “natural pharmacy” is demonstrated by a new study published in the journal Nature. Conducted by ETH research groups led by Shinichi Sunagawa and Jörn Piel, in cooperation with Lucas Paoli from EPFL and the Tara Pacific Consortium, this study identified new microbial species in corals which have the ability to produce novel substances.
Samples reveal a multitude of microbes
The researchers examined more than 800 coral samples collected ten years ago during an expedition by the research vessel Tara across the Pacific Ocean. Most of these samples came from reef-building fire or stony corals.
The team first sequenced fragments of microbial DNA from the samples. Using high-performance computers at ETH Zurich, they then reconstructed the genomes of 645 different species of bacteria and archaea. “For over 99 percent of these species, no genomic information was previously available. Essentially, they were unknown to science,” says Sunagawa.
Every coral has its own microbiome
A comparison with open-ocean water samples showed that these microorganisms are not widely distributed across the Pacific; instead, they are found only within the reef. Furthermore, they tend to be restricted to a particular type of coral, with hardly any overlap between different coral genera. Sunagawa notes that these microorganisms typically inhabit the surface and gastric cavity of their coral hosts, forming a complex ecosystem – similar to the skin and gut microbiome in humans.
Genetic blueprints for natural products
However, the researchers were not content with simply describing new species; they also wanted to investigate the biochemical substances that these microbes might produce. By closely examining the genetic material for the “blueprints” behind these natural products, they discovered hidden treasure.
“We found more potential for the production of natural products in the genomes of coral reef microorganisms than we had previously found across the entire open ocean,” says Sunagawa. One reason for this may be the high density of life in coral reefs: in such a crowded environment, an organism with a versatile chemical defence arsenal has a clear competitive advantage.
Only a fraction discovered so far
For Sunagawa, these findings are only the beginning: “In the latest study, we examined corals from just three genera. In total, however, there are several hundred known genera, comprising several thousand species.” The microbiomes of other species-rich marine organisms, such as sponges, molluscs and algae, have also not yet been sufficiently researched.
The researchers are deeply concerned about the extent of these knowledge gaps, and their implications. If biodiversity in coral reefs continues to decline, it will mean the irretrievable loss of thousands of mostly unknown microbial species.
“Molecular research on coral reefs offers enormous potential for biotechnological and medical applications,” says Piel. “We are under time pressure to tap into and protect this potential,” urges Sunagawa. It is therefore absolutely vital for the protection of coral reefs to include the microbiome too.
Journal
Nature
Article Title
Coral microbiomes as reservoirs of unknown genomic and biosynthetic diversity
Article Publication Date
25-Feb-2026
New Michelin star jellyfish discovered in
Japanese aquaria
image:
Sampling localities of Malagazzia michelin. A. Tabira and Sasebo, Nagasaki Pref. (indicated by black stars); B. Katasoe-ga-hama, Yamaguchi Pref. (by grey star).
view moreCredit: Izumi T, Ikeda S, Nozoe Y, Goto S, Imamura N, Kinoshita T, Uchida H, Hamatsu Y, Akiyama H, Okuizumi K (2026) Discoveries from ornamental jellyfish in aquaria—description of Malagazzia michelin sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Leptothecata), second species of the genus from Japan. ZooKeys 1268: 13-32. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.173354
Researchers have reported the discovery of a new species of jellyfish, Malagazzia michelin, marking only the second species of its genus ever found in Japanese waters. Led by Takato Izumi of Fukuyama University, the discovery was a collaborative effort between marine biologists and staff from several prominent institutions, including the Tsuruoka City Kamo Aquarium and the Saikai National Park Kuju-kushima Aquarium. The full study is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys.
First spotted in the shallow waters of Nagasaki and Yamaguchi Prefectures, the Malagazzia michelin jellyfish has subsequently been cultured and studied in captivity, providing scientists with a complete look at its entire life cycle from polyp to adult.
A Unique Marine Resident
Malagazzia michelin is a small aquatic invertebrate characterised by a hemispherical, transparent umbrella that typically grows to between 12 and 20 millimeters in diameter. While it shares the four-lipped mouth and linear gonads typical of its genus, it is easily distinguished by a peculiar feature: enigmatic brown spots that resemble tiny oil droplets scattered across its reproductive organs and central stomach. DNA analysis has confirmed its status as a unique species, which is distinct from other known members of the Malagazzia family.
The species has been aptly named Malagazzia michelin as a playful nod to the famous Michelin Guide. As the jellyfish matures, the number of its distinctive brown spots increases, a process that researchers likened to a restaurant earning more “stars” for its quality. This celestial theme is also reflected in its new Japanese common name, ama-no-gawa-kurage (Milky Way jellyfish), which compares the white gonads and twinkling brown spots to a starry galaxy.
Navigating the Confusion of Common Names
The formal scientific description of M. michelin addresses an interesting challenge in Japanese marine biology: the risk of common names. In Japan, ornamental jellyfish are often given descriptive common names, such as "salmon-roe laodicean jellyfish" (tsubuiri-sujiko-yawara-kurage), long before they are scientifically identified. This can lead to confusion - M. michelin, for instance, was previously misidentified in field guides as a member of the Laodicea genus, which is not closely related. Researchers emphasise that formal taxonomic work is essential to ensure that the biodiversity displayed in aquaria is accurately documented.
The discovery of Malagazzia michelin demonstrates the significant role that aquariums play as centres for scientific research and biodiversity discovery. By strengthening ties between public exhibitions and taxonomic research, scientists continue to bring the ocean's most stellar species to light.
Original source:
Izumi T, Ikeda S, Nozoe Y, Goto S, Imamura N, Kinoshita T, Uchida H, Hamatsu Y, Akiyama H, Okuizumi K (2026) Discoveries from ornamental jellyfish in aquaria—description of Malagazzia michelin sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Leptothecata), second species of the genus from Japan. ZooKeys 1268: 13-32. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.173354
Journal
ZooKeys
Subject of Research
Animals
Article Title
Discoveries from ornamental jellyfish in aquaria—description of Malagazzia michelin sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Leptothecata), second species of the genus from Japan.
Article Publication Date
28-Feb-2026
A–C. Manubrium, lips and radial canals; A, B. Closed lips (Kuju-kushima 1); C. Open lips (NSMT-Co 1933); D. Tentacles and tentacular bulbs (Kuju-kushima 1). E–G. Gonads; E. Immature (CMNH-ZG 1933); F. Mature female (Kuju-kushima 2); G. Mature male (Kuju-kushima 1). Abbreviations. bs: brown spot; g: gonad; go: gonad (ovary); gt: gonad (testis); m: manubrium; ml: mouth lip; rc: radial canal; t: tentacle. Scale bar: 0.1 mm
A. Development of juvenile medusae (NSMT-Co 1936). From left side, day 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 from release; B–E. Polyps (NSMT-Co 1937 or same colony); B. Enlarged lateral view of a hydrothecal pedicel and a gonotheca; C. Creeping hydrorhiza and several hydrothecal pedicels; D. Oral view of a hydrothecal pedicel; E. Specimen of hydrothecal pedicels and gonothecas (preserved). Abbreviations: g: gonothecata; hp: hydrothecal pedicel; st: stolon; t: tentacle; ym-x: young medusa (x days after released). Scale bar: 1 mm (thick); 200 µm (slender).
External view of the living medusae of Malagazzia michelin.
Credit
Izumi T, Ikeda S, Nozoe Y, Goto S, Imamura N, Kinoshita T, Uchida H, Hamatsu Y, Akiyama H, Okuizumi K (2026) Discoveries from ornamental jellyfish in aquaria—description of Malagazzia michelin sp. nov. (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa, Leptothecata), second species of the genus from Japan. ZooKeys 1268: 13-32. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1268.173354
