Cestidae

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Cestidae
Venus girdle at Rocky Bay DSC07766.JPG
Ctenophore Venus girdle at the dive site Rocky Bay on the east side of False Bay
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cestida
Gegenbaur, 1856
Family: Cestidae
Gegenbaur, 1856
Genera

See text

Cestidae is a family of comb jellies. It is the only family in the monotypic order Cestida. Unlike other comb jellies, the body of cestids is greatly flattened, and drawn out into a long ribbon-like shape. The two tentacles are greatly shortened, and two of the four ciliated comb rows are reduced. The unusual body form allows the animals to swim by means of muscular undulation, as well as by using their cilia. The largest species, belonging to the genus Cestum, can reach 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in length. [1]

Classification

The order Cestida has one family, Cestidae, which contains two genera: Cestum and Velamen . Each genus contains one species.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ctenophora</span> Phylum of gelatinous marine animals

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Girdle of Venus may refer to:

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<i>Ocyropsis</i>

Ocyropsis is a genus of Ctenophores, which are commonly known as Comb Jellies. Ocyropsis belong to the family of Ocyropsidae. Ocyropsis possesses two large lateral muscular lobes and four auricles, and appear pale and translucent in color. Ocyropsis habitat is not precise as their gelatinous composition can make it difficult to study. They have been found in warm and cold waters. Unlike other, slow swimming Ctenophores, Ocyropsis are efficient in evading their predators. They use their oral lobes for additional propulsion and a secrete luminous mucous in efforts to evade predators. The muscular oral lobes of the Ocyropsis are used to grab its prey, and then moved to the prehensile mouth for absorption.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cydippida</span> Order of comb jellies with retractable branched tentacles

Cydippida is an order of comb jellies. They are distinguished from other comb jellies by their spherical or oval bodies, and the fact their tentacles are branched, and can be retracted into pouches on either side of the pharynx. The order is not monophyletic, that is, more than one common ancestor is believed to exist.

<i>Mertensia ovum</i> Species of comb jelly

Mertensia ovum, also known as the Arctic comb jelly or sea nut, is a cydippid comb jelly or ctenophore first described as Beroe ovum by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1780. It is the only species in the genus Mertensia. Unusually among ctenophores, which normally prefer warmer waters, it is found in the Arctic and adjacent polar seas, mostly in surface waters down to 50 metres (160 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benthic comb jelly</span> Comb jelly found in the Ryukyu Trench near Japan

The benthic comb jelly is a comb jelly living in the Ryukyu Trench near Japan. Found at a depth of 7,217 metres (23,700 ft), it is the deepest dwelling ctenophore discovered. Since its discovery, similar comb jellies have been found in the New Britain and Yap trenches.

<i>Beroe</i> (ctenophore) Genus of comb jellies

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<i>Ganesha</i> (ctenophore) Genus of comb jellies

Ganesha is a genus of comb jellies. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Ganeshidae and the order Ganeshida. They are characterized by pair of small lobes round the mouth, and extended pharynx. Two species are currently recognized: Ganesha elegans and Ganesha annamita.

<i>Neis</i> Genus of comb jellies

Neis is a genus of nudan ctenophores. It is a monotypic genus containing the single species Neis cordigera. It occurs only near Australia. As all beroids, it is a free-swimmer that form part of the plankton.

Duobrachium is a monotypic genus of comb jellies belonging to the order Cydippida, family unknown. The only species is Duobrachium sparksae.

<i>Euplokamis</i> Genus of ctenophores

Euplokamis is a genus of ctenophores, or comb jellies, belonging to the monotypic family Euplokamididae. It shares the common name sea gooseberry with species of the genus Pleurobrachia. Despite living for hundreds of millions of years in marine environments, there is minimal research regarding Euplokamis, because they are uncommon. 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.

References

  1. Barnes, Robert D. (1982). Invertebrate Zoology. Philadelphia, PA: Holt-Saunders International. p. 176. ISBN   0-03-056747-5.