Ctenophora General Characteristics and Classification | 100% Free Biology Notes

Ctenophora General Characteristics and Classification

After reading this article you will learn about Ctenophora General Characteristics and Classification

Ctenophora General Characteristics

  • Habit & Habitat – Exclusively marine and mostly solitary
  • Ctenophora are also known as comb jellies due to presence of external rows of ciliated comb plates
  • Ctenophora composed of two layers of tissue known as ectoderm and endoderm with non cellular layer called mesoglea in between
  • Epidermis is made of Sensory cells, mucus secreting cells, lasso cells and nerve cells
  • Gastrodermis is layered tissue with Long storage cells, germ cells and photo cells
  • Tentacles are present. Solid and adhesive cells are present called lasso cells which help in catching prey
  • Sexes are not separate
  • Reproduction takes place by sexual means
  • Fertilization is external
  • Development is indirect type
  • Immature ciliated stage larva called cydippid larva

Classification of Ctenophora

Class 1. Tentaculata

  • The body is rounded or oval o ribbon like
  • Two long aboral tentacles are present
  • Mouth narrow and pharynx small
  • E.g. Hormiphora (The Sea Walnut), Pleurobrachia (The Sea gooseberry), Cestum (The Venus’ Girdle).

Class 1. Nuda

  • The body is large and conical
  • Without tentacles
  • Wide mouth and large pharynx
  • E.g. Beroe (Swimming eye of cat)

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