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More from *Abiogenisis

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November 14, 2011
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:iconabiogenisis:
An illustration of the internal anatomy of a Ctenophore, in this case a generalised Pleurobrachia species.

Ctenophores are a group of marine animals commonly known as Comb Jellies. They exist in large numbers throughout the worlds oceans in which they hunt their small invertebrate prey.

Unlike the superficially similar but unrelated jellyfish, most species do not use contractions of the body wall to move, but rather rows of synchronously beating comb plates of fused cilia. These organs refract sunlight as they move, generating spectacular displays of colour.

Ctenophores lack both circulatory and central nervous systems, behaviour being controlled by a diffuse nerve net. Information about orientation in the water is fed to this nervous system through the apical organ, a domed structure on the aboral surface containing a small statolith (weight) suspended on four pillars of fused cilia.

Food in ctenophores is captured in several ways; in many species food is captured by sticky cells called colloblasts borne on two retractile tentacles. When food such as copepods is captured, the creature rotates its body to bring the tentacle to the mouth for ingestion. From there, prey is drawn into the pharynx and stomach for digestion. This food is distributed throughout the body by extensions of the digestive tract called diverticulum, many of which run directly under the comb rows.
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:icon4450:
Mood: Love ~4450 Feb 21, 2013
these wash up all the time at the gold coast, my little brother calls them fish eggs and tosses them back to the sea. i've never seen their tentacles though, even in a bucket of water
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Feb 28, 2013
Haha nice XD

Some species dont really have tentacles. A few just swallow their food whole.
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:iconthyanna:
Mood: Wow! ~Thyanna Jan 13, 2013
Fantastic!
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:iconmeihua:
*meihua Jul 26, 2012
Wow, awesome illustration and description, very informative :D
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Jul 28, 2012
Thanks :D
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:iconskylerfarrier:
~SkylerFarrier Jul 26, 2012  Hobbyist Writer
:clap:
Very nice. I've seen comb jellies in person, and their rainbow-shining cilia are gorgeous.

They're also great for a cheap laugh. As they are of the Ctenophora phylum and not Cnidaria, they don't sting. But they look like "jellyfish" and won't be able to sting you if you pick them up.
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:iconabiogenisis:
*Abiogenisis Jul 28, 2012
I saw them too in shallow water, very beautiful creatures :)
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:iconskylerfarrier:
~SkylerFarrier Jul 28, 2012  Hobbyist Writer
It's fascinating to watch them drift along.
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:iconxstor:
~Xstor Apr 9, 2012
beatiful!!!
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:iconviergacht:
*viergacht Jan 8, 2012  Professional General Artist
That is truly beautiful.
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