Genus Staurodiscus Haeckel, 1879

Staurodiscus Haeckel, 1879: 145,

type species Staurodiscus tetrastaurus Haeckel, 1879 (Kramp, 1961: 147) .

Staurodiscalma Haeckel, 1879: 145, type species Staurodiscus tetrastaurus Haeckel, 1879 by monotypy.

Staurodiscema Haeckel, 1879: 146, type species Staurodiscus heterosceles Haeckel, 1879 by monotypy.

Toxorchis Haeckel, 1879: 157, type species Toxorchis arcuatus Haeckel, 1879 by monotypy.

Staurodiscoides Uchida, 1927b: 165, type species Staurodiscoides gotoi Uchida, 1927 by monotypy.

Diagnosis: Medusa with 4 or more main primary radial canals, some or all branching one or more times, primary canal and some or all of the branches reaching circular canal; gonads on primary radial canals and branches; numerous tentacles and cordyli; with or without cirri; with or without ocelli.

Hydroid epizootic, Hebella -like; hydrothecae almost conical when growing on upper part of the host, cylindrical when growing on lower part of same host; asymmetrical to symmetrical; with everted margin, sharply or slightly oblique, with short to long, wrinkled or annulated pedicels; with membranous diaphragm (sometimes absent) and annular thickening; gonophores as free medusae; gonotheca as big or slightly bigger than hydrotheca, with four opercular flaps, on short pedicel, slightly undulated walls, truncated distally, tapering at base, containing up to three medusae (Bouillon et al., 2006).

Remarks: See Kramp (1962) and Bouillon (1984b) for emended diagnosis and synopsis of the species. For the life cycle see Migotto & Andrade (2000).