3 photos - 3 species
Introduction
This small phylum includes transparent,
free-drifting invertebrates that are often mistaken for jellyfish,
but this is incorrect.
They lack cnidocytes and have either 2 or no tentacles.
Their body is very vulnerable and is easily injured when touched.
In contrast to the open umbrella shape of jellyfish,
they have an oval or pear-shaped umbrella.
They have eight rows of hair-like cilia that form * ribs *.
When disturbed at night, they produce a beautiful blue-green glow.
Bolinopsis mikado
Bolinopsis mikado
Maximum size: 10 cm
Widespread comb jellyfish.
Moalboal Philippines
Coeloplana meteoris
Comb Jelly
Maximum size: 5 cm
Depth: 3 - 18 m
It lives its entire life benthically.
Nocturnal, moves in a similar way to flatworms.
Diet: Plankton, which it fishes out of the current with its long tentacles.
Description: Yellowish-white net pattern covering the body,
with red pigmentation around the canals, tentacle sheaths and papillae.
Free-living on soft sediment.
Bangka island North Sulawesi
Ctenophora
Ctenophora
Maximum size: 10 cm
Depth 0 - 5 m
They have 4 brown spots on the mouth flaps.
Bonaire Caribbean