First record of Mastigias sidereus Chun, 1896 and Phyllorhiza punctata von Lendenfeld, 1884 (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) from Sri Lanka

Understanding the species diversity of scyphomedusae is a primacy in zoological and ecological studies. Mastigiid medusae, commonly known as “spotted jellyfish”, are widely distributed throughout the Indo-Pacific, although data from the Indian Ocean are limited due to lack of studies. In the “ Waya-jel -Survey” conducted at several coastal localities of Sri Lanka, a Mastigias species was netted off the Laccadive Sea coast and Bay of Bengal coast from 2017 to 2020, while a Phyllorhiza species was sampled off the Laccadive Sea coast in 2017 and 2018. Collected specimens were morphologically identified as Mastigias sidereus and Phyllorhiza punctata , both had never been recorded from Sri Lankan waters. As both the species are mild stingers, no sting cases have ensued so far from Sri Lanka; however, P. punctata was observed to be clogged into nets, resulting in a reduction of commercial fish catches in lagoon fisheries.