Mnemiopsis Leidyi Essay

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Phylum Ctenophora is not a large phylum, containing less than 200 species. Ninety of these species are referred to as the Comb Jellies; the word Ctenophora comes from the Greek word Cteno meaning comb and the word phoros, which means bearing. The sea walnut (Mnemiopsis leidyi) is one of the most common comb jelly species. Mnemiopsis leidyi is native to the Atlantic Ocean, although, they appear to have invaded the Black Sea. They were accidental introduced to the Black Sea around 1980 and the population has exploded since. They are only found in marine and saltwater environments. The sea walnut is in Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Ctenophora, Class Tentaculata, Subclass Cyclocoela, Order Lobata, Family Bolinopsidae, Genus Mnemiopsis, and Species leidyi. It is about 6 centimeters long and 10 centimeters wide. The wart-like bumps along its body give rise to the common name warty comb jelly. Mnemiopsis leidyi is translucent and can reflect light, which give the appearance of rainbow lights dancing down their bodies. These animals are most well known for their ability to make their own bioluminescence, which they flash when they are disturbed. Comb jellies are relatives to the jellyfish; however, they lack nematocysts and most of the phylum does not have any tentacles. Despite the abundant species of comb jellies, they all share the same characteristics. All comb jellies are biradially or radially symmetrical without cephalization. They are protostomes and diploblastic, which explains why they are only at the tissue level of organization. Comb jellies lack specialized respiratory organs, do not have a circulatory system and gas exchange is done over the entire body. Comb jellies have incomplete digestive tracts and excretion is done either through the mouth or anus. Although they lack a brain, they do have a sub-epidural nerve net. Ctenophores have an epidermis and a

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