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Physonectae
Physonectae is a suborder of siphonophores. Organisms in the suborder Physonectae follow the classic Siphonophorae, Siphonophore body plan. They are almost all pelagic, and are composed of a colony of specialized zooids that originate from the same fertilized egg. Distribution The majority of physonect siphonophores are pelagic, with the exception of Rhodaliidae, Rhodallidae, which are a family of benthic physonects first collected during the Challenger expedition, ''Challenger'' expedition and described by Ernst Haeckel, Ernst Haekel in his ''Challenger'' monograph. Physonects, and siphonophores in general, are known to be widely distributed globally, but are understudied. Few individuals have been collected and are often misidentified. As a result, their exact global distributions are unclear. Morphology All physonect siphonophores have an Anatomical terms of location, aboral, apical pneumatophore filled with gas, which is formed by invagination of the superficial cell l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Siphonophorae
Siphonophorae (from Ancient Greek σίφων (siphōn), meaning "tube" and -φόρος (-phóros), meaning "bearing") is an order within Hydrozoa, a class of marine organisms within the phylum Cnidaria. According to the World Register of Marine Species, the order contains 175 species described thus far. Siphonophores are highly polymorphic and complex organisms. Although they may appear to be individual organisms, each specimen is in fact a colonial organism composed of medusoid and polypoid zooids that are morphologically and functionally specialized. Zooids are multicellular units that develop from a single fertilized egg and combine to create functional colonies able to reproduce, digest, float, maintain body positioning, and use jet propulsion to move. Most colonies are long, thin, transparent floaters living in the pelagic zone. Like other hydrozoans, some siphonophores emit light to attract and attack prey. While many sea animals produce blue and green biolumines ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |