The benthic comb jelly is a comb jelly living in the Ryukyu Trench near Japan. Found at a depth of 7,217 metres (23,700 ft), it is the deepest dwelling ctenophore discovered. Since its discovery, similar comb jellies have been found in the New Britain and Yap trenches.[1]
The benthic comb jelly belongs to the group of comb jellies. They get their name from their jelly-like structure and the resemblance to a comb.
The benthic comb jelly is a gelatinous organism 5–8 cm wide and 10–20 cm long. It can attach itself to the sea floor using two long filaments and has two retractable tentacles at the opposite end. Its appearance has been said to resemble a two-tailed box kite.[2] Their pair of long branched tentacles are most likely for entangling their prey and retracting the prey back into the sac in their body.[3]
Discoveryedit
The Benthic comb jelly was discovered off the coast of Japan at the Ryukyu Trench. It was observed by the remotely operated underwater vehicleKaikō on a dive into the Ryukyu Trench in April 2002, but the video and images of this unique bottom dwelling ctenophore remained "undiscovered" until several years later. During April 2006, scientists from the Census of Marine Zooplankton observed a number of rare deep-sea ctenophores, which led to a re-examination of the cydippid ctenophore taxonomy and the suggestion that there be two new families of cydippid ctenophore. Due to several taxonomic affinities, researchers considered this species for inclusion in the genus Aulacoctena. However, it also displayed differences from that genus, so it may need to be placed in a new genus. The specimens were not brought to the surface and in any event, appear fragile and might not withstand the changes of pressure involved.[4]
Dietedit
Many questions have arisen about the availability of food for the benthic comb jelly. Previously, it was thought the abyssal depths of deep sea trenches, such as this one, could not support predators that actively hunt macroscopic food sources (as opposed to sessile predators, which do not hunt). This led some to believe that there is missing information about the area's ecosystem.[2] However, characterizing the habitat and food source of benthic comb jellies and its "role in shaping the assemblage distribution pattern remains challenging, due to limited access to extreme deep ecosystems and the paucity of sample points obtained within the hadal zone".[1] Because they are exclusively marine they likely are planktonic like most comb jellies.[5]
Referencesedit
^ abZhang, Dongsheng; Zhou, Yadong; Yang, Jichao; Linley, Thomas; Zhang, Ruiyan; Lu, Bo; Xu, Peng; Shen, Chengcheng; Lin, Shiquan; Wang, Yueyun; Sun, Dong; Wang, Xiaogu; Wang, Chunsheng (2021-03-04). "Megafaunal Community Structure From the Abyssal to Hadal Zone in the Yap Trench". Frontiers in Marine Science. 8. doi:10.3389/fmars.2021.617820. ISSN 2296-7745.
^ ab. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
^Rudman, W. B. (2010-07-15). "The Sea Slug Forum - Benthic ctenophores". www.seaslugforum.net. Retrieved 2024-02-04.
^Lindsay, D. J.; Miyake, H. (2007). "A novel benthopelagic ctenophore from 7,217m depth in the Ryukyu Trench, Japan, with notes on the taxonomy of deep-sea cydippids" (PDF). Plankton and Benthos Research. 2 (2): 98–102. doi:10.3800/pbr.2.98.
^Mills, Claudia E. (1987-11-01). "Revised classification of the genus Euplokamis Chun, 1880 (Ctenophora: Cydippida: Euplokamidae n. fam.) with a description of the new species Euplokamis dunlapae". Canadian Journal of Zoology. 65 (11): 2661–2668. doi:10.1139/z87-404. ISSN 0008-4301.
. Census of Marine Life: Marine Life Discoveries. Archived from the original on 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2013-02-26.
May 09, 2024
benthic, comb, jelly, benthic, comb, jelly, comb, jelly, living, ryukyu, trench, near, japan, found, depth, metres, deepest, dwelling, ctenophore, discovered, since, discovery, similar, comb, jellies, have, been, found, britain, trenches, benthic, comb, jelly,. The benthic comb jelly is a comb jelly living in the Ryukyu Trench near Japan Found at a depth of 7 217 metres 23 700 ft it is the deepest dwelling ctenophore discovered Since its discovery similar comb jellies have been found in the New Britain and Yap trenches 1 The benthic comb jelly belongs to the group of comb jellies They get their name from their jelly like structure and the resemblance to a comb Contents 1 Description 2 Discovery 3 Diet 4 ReferencesDescription editThe benthic comb jelly is a gelatinous organism 5 8 cm wide and 10 20 cm long It can attach itself to the sea floor using two long filaments and has two retractable tentacles at the opposite end Its appearance has been said to resemble a two tailed box kite 2 Their pair of long branched tentacles are most likely for entangling their prey and retracting the prey back into the sac in their body 3 Discovery editThe Benthic comb jelly was discovered off the coast of Japan at the Ryukyu Trench It was observed by the remotely operated underwater vehicle Kaikō on a dive into the Ryukyu Trench in April 2002 but the video and images of this unique bottom dwelling ctenophore remained undiscovered until several years later During April 2006 scientists from the Census of Marine Zooplankton observed a number of rare deep sea ctenophores which led to a re examination of the cydippid ctenophore taxonomy and the suggestion that there be two new families of cydippid ctenophore Due to several taxonomic affinities researchers considered this species for inclusion in the genus Aulacoctena However it also displayed differences from that genus so it may need to be placed in a new genus The specimens were not brought to the surface and in any event appear fragile and might not withstand the changes of pressure involved 4 Diet editMany questions have arisen about the availability of food for the benthic comb jelly Previously it was thought the abyssal depths of deep sea trenches such as this one could not support predators that actively hunt macroscopic food sources as opposed to sessile predators which do not hunt This led some to believe that there is missing information about the area s ecosystem 2 However characterizing the habitat and food source of benthic comb jellies and its role in shaping the assemblage distribution pattern remains challenging due to limited access to extreme deep ecosystems and the paucity of sample points obtained within the hadal zone 1 Because they are exclusively marine they likely are planktonic like most comb jellies 5 References edit a b Zhang Dongsheng Zhou Yadong Yang Jichao Linley Thomas Zhang Ruiyan Lu Bo Xu Peng Shen Chengcheng Lin Shiquan Wang Yueyun Sun Dong Wang Xiaogu Wang Chunsheng 2021 03 04 Megafaunal Community Structure From the Abyssal to Hadal Zone in the Yap Trench Frontiers in Marine Science 8 doi 10 3389 fmars 2021 617820 ISSN 2296 7745 a b Benthic Comb Jelly World Ocean Observatory Archived from the original on 2013 11 13 Retrieved 2014 05 13 Rudman W B 2010 07 15 The Sea Slug Forum Benthic ctenophores www seaslugforum net Retrieved 2024 02 04 Lindsay D J Miyake H 2007 A novel benthopelagic ctenophore from 7 217m depth in the Ryukyu Trench Japan with notes on the taxonomy of deep sea cydippids PDF Plankton and Benthos Research 2 2 98 102 doi 10 3800 pbr 2 98 Mills Claudia E 1987 11 01 Revised classification of the genus Euplokamis Chun 1880 Ctenophora Cydippida Euplokamidae n fam with a description of the new species Euplokamis dunlapae Canadian Journal of Zoology 65 11 2661 2668 doi 10 1139 z87 404 ISSN 0008 4301 Benthic Comb Jelly Census of Marine Life Marine Life Discoveries Archived from the original on 2013 11 13 Retrieved 2013 02 26 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benthic comb jelly amp oldid 1203452017, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
