Taxonomic review of three Japanese species of edible jellyfish (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae)

Specimens of three edible jellyfish from Japan, i.e. "Bizen kurage", "Hizen kurage", and "Echizen kurage", are re-examined and re-described so that their nomenclature is stabilized. The "Bizen kurage" is Rhopilema esculentum Kishinouye 1891, and the "Hizen kurage" is Rhopilema hispidum (Vanhfen 1888). The "Echizen kurage" is a distinct species of the genus Nemopilema. We propose to revive the original name Nemopilema nomurai Kishinouye 1922 from the more commonly used Stomolophus nomurai. The taxonomic position of N. nomurai within the Scapulatae is discussed.