Life cycle of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carybdea marsupialis</Emphasis> Linnaeus, 1758 (Cubozoa,Carybdeidae) reveals metamorphosis to be a modified strobilation

Two types of metamorphosis occur in the life cycle of Carybdea marsupialis Linnaeus 1758 (Cubozoa, Carybdeidae). In addition to the metamorphosis described several times over, during which the entire polyp transforms into one medusa, we investigated a second type of metamorphosis which leaves a regenerative remnant. This mode of medusa formation seems to be derived from the strobilation known from Scyphozoa. Both types are described and the implications these results have on the idea about the origin of the class Cubozoa, are discussed.