PHYLUM CTENOPHORA Meaning and
Definition
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Phylum Ctenophora, also known as comb jellies or sea gooseberries, is a group of marine invertebrates that belongs to the animal kingdom. They are transparent, gelatinous creatures characterized by their comb-like rows of cilia, which they use for locomotion and prey capture.
Ctenophores are soft-bodied organisms with a diverse range of shapes and sizes. Some species have a spherical or oval body shape, while others exhibit a more elongated or flattened body form. They possess two distinct cell layers: an outer epidermis and an inner layer that includes specialized cells for prey capture and digestion.
These unique animal forms can be found in the Earth's oceans, from the surface to great depths. They are predominantly free-floating organisms, although some species attach themselves to surfaces using a sticky mucus secretion. Ctenophores are distributed worldwide, but they are especially abundant in tropical and subtropical waters.
Phylum Ctenophora plays a significant role in ocean ecosystems as both predators and prey. They primarily feed on small zooplankton, using their sticky tentacles to capture prey before transporting it to their mouth for digestion. Some ctenophores possess tentacles armed with toxic cells, allowing them to immobilize or deter potential predators.
Despite their superficial similarity to jellyfish, ctenophores are a distinct phylum, with anatomical and developmental differences separating them from other marine organisms. Their unique biology and ecological niche make them an intriguing group of organisms to study in marine biology and contribute to the overall biodiversity of marine ecosystems.
Common Misspellings for PHYLUM CTENOPHORA
- ohylum ctenophora
- lhylum ctenophora
- -hylum ctenophora
- 0hylum ctenophora
- pgylum ctenophora
- pbylum ctenophora
- pnylum ctenophora
- pjylum ctenophora
- puylum ctenophora
- pyylum ctenophora
- phtlum ctenophora
- phglum ctenophora
- phhlum ctenophora
- phulum ctenophora
- ph7lum ctenophora
- ph6lum ctenophora
- phykum ctenophora
- phypum ctenophora
- phyoum ctenophora
Etymology of PHYLUM CTENOPHORA
The word "Phylum Ctenophora" has Greek roots in its etymology.
- "Phylum" is derived from the Greek word "phylon", which means "tribe" or "race".
- "Ctenophora" is composed of two Greek words: "cteno", meaning "comb", and "phora", meaning "bearer" or "carrier".
Thus, "Phylum Ctenophora" translates to "comb-bearing tribe" or "comb-bearing race" in reference to the phylum's defining characteristic of comb-like structures called ctenes, which are used for locomotion.
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