An exotic hydromedusa, Maeotias marginata (Modeer, 1791) (= M. inexpectata Ostroumoff, 1896) (Limnomedusae, Olindiidae) was observed 1999 in the Væinameri area of the northern Baltic Sea, westem Estonia. The genuine brackishwater species is considered native to the Sea of Azov - Black Sea estuaries. It has earlier been found introduced also in low-salinity habitats in the Netherlands, France, and both coasts of North America. The identity of the Baltic and North American Maeotias was confirmed using molecular characters (sequence of the mitochondrial COI gene). |