Comb Jellies

By: Drew & Elijah

Taxonomic ClassificationDomain: EukaryotaKingdom: AnimaliaSubkingdom: Eumetazoa

Scientific Name

Sea Walnut: Mnemiopsis leidyiPink Comb Jelly: Beroe ovata

Domain: EukaryotaKingdom: AnimaliaSubkingdom: EumetazoaPhylum: Ctenophora

Key Characteristics/Adapta

ions-Have 8 rows ciliary combs

-Capture their prey using 2 long tentacles armed with sticky cells named colloblasts

- They can live in cold or warm water

- Are bioluminescent

Adaptations-Few species have nematocysts, possibly obtained by eating jellyfish or siphonophores

Habitat- Live near the surface of both shallow and deep waters- Swim together in large swarms

Reproduction-Reproduction mostly sexual as hermaphrodites, occasionally asexual- Spawn at night when water temperatures warm to 66-73 degrees- Young are able to reproduce 13 days after hatching

Interesting Facts- Comb jellies do not have stinging tentacles- Comb jellies break apart when taken out of the water.- Some comb jellies also glow when scared/disturbed

Sources

Chesapeakebay.netaqua.org