Chrysaora lactea Eschscholtz, 1829

Synonyms in the area: Dactylometra lactea —Agassiz 1862; Mayer 1910; Chrysaora hysoscella —Vannucci 1954, 1957a; Goy 1979; Mianzan et al. 1988; Mianzan 1989a; Olagüe et al. 1990; Chrysaora quinquecirrha —Goy 1979; Mianzan et al. 1988.

Remarks: the species was first described from the Brazilian coast ( Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro state) by Eschscholtz (1829). Some confusion remained in the literature about the correct name to be used ( Dactylometra) and the species identification (see Goy 1979; Mianzan 1989a, 1989b). Redescription of the species occurred recently (Morandini et al. 2006a) and the metagenetic life cycle was described (Morandini et al. 2004).

Distribution in South America: medusa—Atlantic Ocean, Colombia to Argentina, from 12°N to 40°S (Ranson 1949; Oliveira 1950; Vannucci 1954, 1957a; Goy 1979, Mianzan 1989a, 1989b; Olagüe et al. 1990; Mianzan & Cornelius 1999; Migotto et al. 2002; Morandini et al. 2004, 2 005a, 2 005b, 2006a; Morandini & Marques 2010; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Nogueira Jr. 2012).

Habitat: neritic species, abundant in coastal and estuarine waters (Mianzan & Cornelius 1999).