ctenophora

1. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Phylum Ctenophora
Comb Jellies

2. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Phylum Ctenophora (Comb Bearers)
 Defining Characteristics
– Plates of fused cilia arranged in rows
– Adhesive prey capturing cells (colloblasts)
 Comb jellies are delicate, transparent,
non-stinging predators

3. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Ctenophora Structure
 Similar in structure to
Cnidaria medusa
 Poorly studied due to
fragile nature

4. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Ctenophore Structure
 Body surface has eight
rows of comb-like paddles
 Comb paddle has
thousands of cilia used to
swim

5. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Apical Sense Organ
 Apical sense organ
located on the
aboral surface
controls beating of
cilia
– Statolith and
balancers

6. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Colloblasts
 Sticky retractile tentacle
used to catch prey
– Colloblast discharge an
adhesive thread which is
sticky to the touch
 Some spp. lack
tentacles and the body
is studded with
colloblasts

7. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Digestion
 Feed on plankton,
other ctenophores and
other Cnidarian jellies
 Gut extends through
the entire body; mouth
is at the oral end
 Anal pore is at the
aboral end

8. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Reproduction
 Can rapidly regenerate
lost or damaged parts
 Usually hermaphrodites
 Developmental stage
– Cydippid larva, this
develops into an adult

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Evolutionary history and
Bioluminescence

10. Phylulm Ctenophora
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Evolutionary History
Characteristic Ctenophores Cnidarians
Developmental
Stage
Cydippid Planula
Digestive
System
Gastrovascular
canals
Gastrovascular
canals
Nematocysts None Present
Colloblast Present None
Sexuality Hermaphroditic Gonochoristic
Musculature Within Mesoglea Within
Gastrodermis
Ciliation Multiciliated cells Monociliated cells

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Ctenophore diversity
 Most species live in the open ocean and are not well
studied
– New studies use submersibles and divers to collect
specimens, eliminating specimen destruction by fast towed
nets
 Phylum Ctenophora
– Order Lobata
– Order Beroida

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Order Lobata
 Order Lobata
– Posses long tentacles
throughout the lifecycle
– Retractile in nature

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Order Beroida
 Order Beroida
– Lack tentacles, or oral lobes
– Can consume prey
substantially larger than itself