Comb Jellies are some of the most fascinating and beautiful creatures in the ocean

They are named after the rows of cilia, often referred to as combs, which propel themselves through the water

The Ctenophora phylum consists of a wide variety of species with many different hunting techniques.
The Pacific sea gooseberry uses two long tentacles lined with adhesive cells called colloblasts which capture prey. It floats through the ocean waiting for plankton and other small creatures to become ensared before reeling them into it's mouth

Other comb jellies actively hunt their prey like the Abyssal comb jelly. They are able to open their mouth wide to devour prey whole. One of their main sources of food is other comb jellies. It is thought that their red coloring helps to camouflage themselves in the deep when they eat bioluminescent prey so that the light doesn't leak out, attracting other predators.

Similar to jellyfish, they do not have a brain, but instead have a nerve net which allows them to respond to stimuli in their environment.

Comb Jellies are thought to be hundreds of millions of years old, but because of their soft bodies, there are very few fossils to study. Fossil impressions that have been found show rows of cilia similar to modern species. The fossils also show internal organ-like structures which are not present in any modern species suggesting that their ancient form may have been substantially different.

>>5015480
I wish there was a larger or more dangerous comb jelly, jellyfish have some unique and freaky family members but I feel like the comb jelly family is just small and very similar, with the blood belly one being the most unique.

I don't get how these are anything different than a normal jellyfish. What sets them apart exactly?

>>5015497
The main differences between Jellyfish and Comb Jellies is how they move and how they catch prey.
Comb Jellies use rows of cilia that run the length of their body like tiny oars to move through the water. Jellyfish, on the other hand, expand and contract their singular bell to push water behind them.
Comb jellies use adhesive colloblast cells (which are unique to ctenophores), to trap their prey. Jellyfish use stinging cells called cnidocytes to stun or kill their prey before eating it.

>>5015488
>I feel like the comb jelly family is just small and very similar
I have to disagree with this. While the number of comb jelly species is much smaller than that of jellyfish, there are many unique and freaky creatures that don't just resemble the standard shape.
For example, the Venus Girdle can grow to more than a meter long and looks nothing like the blood belly.

>>5015488
Also, comb jellies are difficult to study because many of them live in deep water and are very fragile. The comb jellies that live in deep water have specializations in the membranes of their cells called plasmalogen lipids. These allow the cells to remain flexible even under extreme pressures. When these species are brought into shallower water their cell membranes tear apart because there is nothing holding them together.
There are new species of comb jellies being discovered as more of the deep ocean is explored. This species, Duobrachium sparksae, was just discovered in 2015.

>>5015755

Some species of Comb Jelly have evolved to live on the ocean floor instead of floating freely in the water.
Benthic Ctenophores lack the combs of cilia that would allow them to swim. Instead, they anchor themselves to the ground and stretch out their tentacles to catch food that passes by.
This Harp Comb Jelly can be seen reeling in it's catch to feed.

>>5015812
This genus exhibits a wide variety of colors

Another bottom dwelling ctenophore is the creeping comb jelly.
They attach themselves to starfish.

>>5015827
I didn’t even know these existed. It’s like a flatworm

>>5015912
They do look very similar to flatworms and it can be difficult to identify them if they do not have their dual tentacles extended.
On this species it is more obvious because of the lobes where the tentacles are stored.

This is the Spotted Comb Jelly.
The 4 waving arms that you see are called auricles. They are also lined with cilia and help to direct food into the animals mouth.

>>5016560
Some footage of one swimming. It truly looks like some sort of alien spaceship.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium and Research Institute has some really incredible footage of various comb jelly species. They also have some on display at the aquarium.

>>5015464 (OP)
Aside from hatchet fish these were my favorite underwater creatures growing up. Couldn’t stop drawing them

This species has a striking orange color.
You can see one of it's coiled tentacles which doesn't appear to have the small hairs branching off it like the other species in this thread. It was photographed north of Alaska and can grow to be football sized.

>>5019393

This is what happens to your coom after it goes down the drain

>>5015733
Sucks how it got sucked into a motor or something and get ripped apart

comb jellies make me imagine the sort of "low power running noises" of starships.
gentle engine hum, beeps of unattended consoles, etc.
this sorta stuff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnU2qn6-hz4