| Euplokamis octoptera | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Ctenophora |
| Class: | Tentaculata |
| Order: | Cydippida |
| Family: | Euplokamididae |
| Genus: | Euplokamis |
| Species: | E. octoptera |
| Binomial name | |
| Euplokamis octoptera (Mertens, 1833) | |
Euplokamis octoptera is a marine species of ctenophore. [1] It was described as "likely to be Mertensia ovum", but it was moved to Euplokamis by Mills in 1987. [2]
The species occurs in the North Atlantic Ocean. [1]
Genus is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial species name for each species within the genus.
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The World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) is a taxonomic database that aims to provide an authoritative and comprehensive list of names of marine organisms.
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Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site is a National Marine Conservation Area of Canada. It is located off the coast of the southernmost Haida Gwaii, 130 kilometres off the mainland of British Columbia. It is immediately adjacent to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The level of protection differs from that of the National Park Reserve, however, allowing sustainable use of some natural resources in the area. Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, which covers 3,400 square kilometres, is "a primary feeding habitat" of the humpback whale protected by Canada's Species at Risk Act (SARA).
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Euplokamis is a genus of ctenophores, or comb jellies, belonging to the monotypic family Euplokamididae. Despite living for hundreds of millions of years in marine environments, there is minimal research regarding Euplokamis, primarily due to their body structure. Research on the evolution of the basic body structures of diploblastic metazoans revealed that there are four major phyla, including the Ctenophores. Although the morphology of Euplokamis often resembles the medusa stage of Cnidarians, their eight rows of combs are one distinguishing feature that led to the official classification of Ctenophores. After being originally described by Chun (1879), the family Euplokamididae was expanded by Mills (1987) due to the discovery of a new species, Euplokamis dunlapae. Further research indicated that Euplokamis should be identified from Mertensiidae due to the rows of combs and some compression. They may also be distinguished from the genus Pleurobrachia due to their more elongated shape. Additionally, various adaptations of Euplokamis have been observed such as the use of tentacles for movement/feeding, a complex nervous system, and bioluminescent capabilities. Other characteristics including a defined mesoderm, lack of stinging cells, developmental differences, and symmetry supported the reclassification of these organisms.
Euplokamis stationis is a marine species of ctenophores. It was named after a Naples zoological station.
Euplokamis helicoides is a species of marine ctenophore. It has been reported to be a fast swimmer.
Euplokamis evansae is a marine species of ctenophore.
Euplokamis crinita is a marine species of ctenophore. The tentacles of the species have been reported to be smaller. This resulted in the species being argued to be in the genus Pleurobrachia, however according to WORMS, it stays in Euplokamis.