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<p>As in most syphozoan species, the life cycle of <i>Stomolophus</i> sp. 2 is metagenic, with a medusa stage that is dioecious and reproduces sexually. In this study, we describe a previously unreported form of asexual reproduction in <i>Stomolophus</i> sp. 2, in which new polyp colonies develop directly from the bell margins of medusae under laboratory conditions, without apparent environmental stress. These polyps derived from the medusae body were capable of feeding, strobilating, and producing viable ephyrae, demonstrating full functionality of the benthic stage. This new mode of asexual reproduction reveals a novel mechanism of dispersal and local recruitment that, if confirmed in wild jellyfish, may contribute to population dispersal and persistence in environments where sexual reproduction is limited. Our results also highlight the remarkable developmental plasticity of scyphozoan jellyfish and underscore the need to further investigate the ecological relevance and mechanistic basis of medusa-derived polyp development.</p>

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Asexual development of polyps from the juvenile body of the cannonball jellyfish (Stomolophus sp. 2)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年6月1日

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  • Cintya A Nevárez-López,
  • Raúl Llera-Herrera,
  • Juana López-Martínez

摘要

As in most syphozoan species, the life cycle of Stomolophus sp. 2 is metagenic, with a medusa stage that is dioecious and reproduces sexually. In this study, we describe a previously unreported form of asexual reproduction in Stomolophus sp. 2, in which new polyp colonies develop directly from the bell margins of medusae under laboratory conditions, without apparent environmental stress. These polyps derived from the medusae body were capable of feeding, strobilating, and producing viable ephyrae, demonstrating full functionality of the benthic stage. This new mode of asexual reproduction reveals a novel mechanism of dispersal and local recruitment that, if confirmed in wild jellyfish, may contribute to population dispersal and persistence in environments where sexual reproduction is limited. Our results also highlight the remarkable developmental plasticity of scyphozoan jellyfish and underscore the need to further investigate the ecological relevance and mechanistic basis of medusa-derived polyp development.