Biology:Venus girdle

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Short description: Species of comb jelly

Venus girdle
Cestum veneris in Hawaii.png
Photographed in Hawaii
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cestida
Family: Cestidae
Genus: Cestum
Lesueur, 1813
Species:
C. veneris
Binomial name
Cestum veneris
Lesueur, 1813

The Venus girdle (Cestum veneris) is a comb jelly in the family Cestidae. It is the only member of its genus, Cestum,[1] and is also the largest of all known ctenophores.

Description

Venus girdles resemble transparent ribbons with iridescent edges. They may grow up to a metre in total length. Canals run the length of the ribbon in which bioluminesce activates when disturbed.[2]

Distribution

This species is pelagic and is found in tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide in midwater.[2]

Ecology

These animals swim horizontally using muscular contractions as well as the beating of the comb rows. The oral edge leads. They eat small crustaceans.[2]

References

  1. "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Cestum veneris Lesueur, 1813". http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106363. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 Wrobel D. & Mills C. 2003. Has no bell, no tentacles,found in the Mediterranean Sea. Pacific Coast Pelagic Invertebrates: a guide to the common gelatinous animals. Sea Challengers. ISBN:0-930118-23-5

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