Taxonomic identification and distribution of Cnidaria medusae in Doragh and Ghazaleh creek (Khozestan Province)

Medusae of cnidaria were identified in various locations of the world but in Asia، specially Iran، spacious study in this field wasn’t done. Main purposes of this study were: Taxonomic identification and determination of distribution of medusae. Studied medusae have been sampled in 2 station July 2005 until June 2006. Monthly sampling were collected with 300µm mesh size plankton net in oblique tow from near bottom to surface and samples of macro medusae were collected from local fisher man. Results showed that medusae belonging to 2 class، 4 order، 11 family، 13 genus and 16 species. The identified species are as follows: Phialucium carolinae، Eirene kambara، Eirene hexanemalis، Liriope tetraphylla، Diphyes disper، Diphyes chamisonis، Obelia sp.، Lensia subtiloides، Aequrea parva، Phiallela sp.، Eutima levuka، Octophialucium indicum، Octophialucium medium، Cassiopea andromeda، Catostylus perezi، Rhizostoma sp. Analysis variance azmoon were used to impact of station and mounth on medusae abundance. As a result medusae abundance showed significant variation in different mounths.