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phylum Ctenophora

phylum Ctenophora

9.9
A small group of sea animals called comb jellies that have soft bodies and move with rows of tiny hairs
  • noun
  • /ˈfaɪləm ˌtɛnəˈfɔrə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : filo Ctenophora
  • Unlike jellyfish, members of the phylum Ctenophora move by beating rows of cilia.

Examples

  • The phylum Ctenophora includes species commonly known as comb jellies found in oceans worldwide.

  • Many species within the phylum Ctenophora are bioluminescent.

  • Researchers study the transparent bodies characteristic of animals in the phylum Ctenophora.

  • The phylum Ctenophora includes fascinating creatures like the comb jelly.

  • The phylum Ctenophora is unique for its beautiful gelatinous bodies that shimmer in the light.

  • Many marine scientists focus their research on the phylum Ctenophora due to its intriguing locomotion methods.

  • Creatures in the phylum Ctenophora, like comb jellies, are often found drifting in warm coastal waters.

Synonyms

Ctenophora
vsphylum Ctenophora
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A group of sea animals with eight rows of comb-like hairs used to move

emphasizes gelatinous bodies and an alternate common name instead of row count

Surface Forms

Morphology

phylum + Ctenophora

The phrase is fully compositional: 'phylum' names the taxonomic rank and 'Ctenophora' names the group, so together they denote the biological phylum of comb jellies. This follows standard biological naming conventions (rank + taxon) found across languages, so a learner who knows both constituent words can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Phylum Ctenophora comes from the parts cteno- and -phora, which mean 'comb' and 'to carry'; these sea animals have rows of tiny comb-like hairs they beat to move, so we call them 'comb jellies' today.