noun
- Marine animals of the phylum Ctenophora, characterized by rows of cilia used for movement and often bioluminescent; also called comb jellies.
Usage: plural form; scientific/biological term; also known as comb jellies
Examples
- Ctenophorans are found in oceans around the world, from surface waters to the deep sea.
- Unlike jellyfish, ctenophorans use rows of cilia to propel themselves through the water.
- Many ctenophorans produce their own light through bioluminescence.
- The transparent bodies of ctenophorans make them difficult to spot in the ocean.
- Scientists study ctenophorans to better understand early animal evolution.