noun
- marine colonial organisms consisting of specialized individuals working together as a single unit, including jellyfish-like creatures such as the Portuguese man o’ war
Usage: biology; zoology
Examples
- Siphonophores are among the most complex colonial organisms in the ocean.
- The Portuguese man o’ war is one of the most well-known siphonophores.
- Marine biologists study siphonophores to understand colonial organization.
- Some siphonophores can grow to extraordinary lengths in deep water.
- The stinging cells of certain siphonophores can be dangerous to swimmers.
- Siphonophores drift through the ocean using specialized float structures.