Venus girdle

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

Venus girdle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Order: Cestida
Family: Cestidae
Genus: Cestum
Lesueur, 1813
Species:
C. veneris
Binomial name
Cestum veneris
Lesueur, 1813

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. http://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=106363 accessed 10 September 2013
  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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