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<p>Marine ecosystems host a diverse array of symbiotic interactions. Here, we report the first documented association between the brittle star <i>Ophiocnemis marmorata</i> and the scyphozoan jellyfish <i>Cyanea nozakii</i>. In August 2022, 38 specimens of <i>C. nozakii</i> were collected from the coastal waters of Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, India. More than 60% of these specimens exhibited a distinct association with ophiuroids, identified as <i>O. marmorata</i> by morphology and DNA barcoding. These ophiuroids were observed adhering to the jellyfish, with larger individuals predominantly located on the exumbrellar surface and smaller ones housed within the gastrovascular cavity. Expanding on previous hypotheses, our study supports kleptoparasitism in smaller ophiuroids, a feeding strategy where they appropriate planktonic food entrapped by their host jellyfish. Larger individuals may instead capture prey externally or exploit organisms trapped in the jellyfish’s mucus. Additionally, our findings introduce a novel perspective, suggesting that scyphozoans like <i>C. nozakii</i> may function as nursery habitats for <i>O. marmorata</i>. This study underscores the significance of comprehending these intricate symbiotic relationships, further enriching our understanding of marine ecology and the diverse strategies organisms employ to optimize their survival and resource utilization.</p>

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First Record of the Brittle Star Ophiocnemis marmorata (Lamarck, 1816) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) Hitchhiking on Cyanea nozakii Kishinouye, 1891 (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月9日

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  • Jasmine Purushothaman,
  • Haritha Prasad,
  • Usha V. Parameswaran,
  • Subhrangshu Basu,
  • C. Praveen Raj,
  • Dhriti Banerjee

摘要

Marine ecosystems host a diverse array of symbiotic interactions. Here, we report the first documented association between the brittle star Ophiocnemis marmorata and the scyphozoan jellyfish Cyanea nozakii. In August 2022, 38 specimens of C. nozakii were collected from the coastal waters of Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, India. More than 60% of these specimens exhibited a distinct association with ophiuroids, identified as O. marmorata by morphology and DNA barcoding. These ophiuroids were observed adhering to the jellyfish, with larger individuals predominantly located on the exumbrellar surface and smaller ones housed within the gastrovascular cavity. Expanding on previous hypotheses, our study supports kleptoparasitism in smaller ophiuroids, a feeding strategy where they appropriate planktonic food entrapped by their host jellyfish. Larger individuals may instead capture prey externally or exploit organisms trapped in the jellyfish’s mucus. Additionally, our findings introduce a novel perspective, suggesting that scyphozoans like C. nozakii may function as nursery habitats for O. marmorata. This study underscores the significance of comprehending these intricate symbiotic relationships, further enriching our understanding of marine ecology and the diverse strategies organisms employ to optimize their survival and resource utilization.