SCYPHOMEDUSE Meaning and
Definition
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A scyphomeduse, also known as a true jellyfish, is a marine invertebrate belonging to the class Scyphozoa within the phylum Cnidaria. It is characterized by its bell-shaped body with a well-defined central cavity known as the gastrovascular cavity. Scyphomeduses typically have a distinctive transparent or translucent body, which allows them to blend into their aquatic environment while being visible to prey.
The scyphomeduse possesses several tentacles that arise from the rim of its bell-shaped body and are armed with specialized cells called cnidocytes. These cnidocytes contain stinging structures called nematocysts that enable the jellyfish to capture and paralyze small aquatic organisms before consuming them.
Scyphomeduses are considered to be voracious predators, feeding primarily on zooplankton, fish eggs, larvae, and other small aquatic organisms. Their diet may vary depending on the species and their stage of development.
Reproduction in scyphomeduses is primarily sexual, with separate male and female individuals. Fertilization occurs externally, and the female releases numerous eggs, which are then fertilized by the sperm released by the male. The fertilized eggs develop into larvae known as planulae, which eventually settle on a substrate to develop into polyps. These polyps then undergo a process known as strobilation, where they give rise to small medusae that grow and mature into adult scyphomeduses.
Overall, scyphomeduses play a vital ecological role in marine ecosystems as both predator and prey, contributing to the balance of the food web and serving as an indicator of the health of oceanic environments.
Common Misspellings for SCYPHOMEDUSE
- acyphomeduse
- zcyphomeduse
- xcyphomeduse
- dcyphomeduse
- ecyphomeduse
- wcyphomeduse
- sxyphomeduse
- svyphomeduse
- sfyphomeduse
- sdyphomeduse
- sctphomeduse
- scgphomeduse
- schphomeduse
- scuphomeduse
- sc7phomeduse
- sc6phomeduse
- scyohomeduse
- scylhomeduse
- scy-homeduse
- scy0homeduse
Etymology of SCYPHOMEDUSE
The word "Scyphomeduse" comes from a combination of two terms: "Scypho-" and "-meduse".
The prefix "Scypho-" is derived from the Greek word "skýphos", which means "cup" or "goblet". It refers to the characteristic cup-like shape of the bell or body of a jellyfish. This prefix is commonly used in taxonomy to indicate a type of jellyfish belonging to the class Scyphozoa, which includes the true jellyfish.
The suffix "-meduse" is taken from the French word "méduse", which is itself derived from the Latin word "médūsa". This term originally referred to the mythical creature Medusa, who was turned into a monster with snakes for hair. In biology, "-meduse" is used to describe various gelatinous marine creatures, including jellyfish.
