Three new species and a status revision of Hydroidomedusa (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) from the coast of China.

Three previously unknown species of Hydroidomedusa are described from plankton samples collected during oceanographic cruises undertaken along the coast of China. The Anthomedusae Ectopleura dongshanensis Xu, Chen & Chang sp. n. and Ectopleura brevinema Xu, Chen & Wang sp. n. were collected in Dongshan Bay, and the Leptomedusae species Eirene globogonia Xu & Chen sp. n. was found in the shallow waters of Hainan Island. All new species are described and illustrated here. The species Eirene chiaochowensis (Kao, Li , Chang & Li , 1958) stat. rev. is revised to a valid species. Keys to known species of the genera Ectopleura and Eirene are provided. All specimens were deposited at the Third Institute of Oceanography, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]