Phylum Ctenophora

Comb Jellies

1 Phylulm Ctenophora
 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

2 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Ctenophora Structure

 Similar in structure to
Cnidaria medusa

 Poorly studied due to

fragile nature

3 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Ctenophore Structure

 Body surface has eight

rows of comb-like paddles
 Comb paddle has
thousands of cilia used to
swim

4 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Apical Sense Organ

 Apical sense organ

located on the
aboral surface
controls beating of
cilia
– Statolith and
balancers

5 Phylulm Ctenophora
 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
6 Phylulm Ctenophora
 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

7 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Reproduction

 Can rapidly regenerate

lost or damaged parts

 Usually hermaphrodites
 Developmental stage
– Cydippid larva, this
develops into an adult

8 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Evolutionary history and
Bioluminescence

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

10 Phylulm Ctenophora
 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

11 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Order Lobata

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

12 Phylulm Ctenophora
 Order Beroida

 Order Beroida
– Lack tentacles, or oral lobes

– Can consume prey

substantially larger than itself

13 Phylulm Ctenophora