Warty Comb Jelly

Appearance

The horned ctenophore has an oval, translucent body. It becomes bioluminescent when disturbed. Numerous conical papillae and eight rows of ciliated combs run along the body. Two wing-shaped appendages are crossed by sinuous canals. Two very thin and fairly short tentacles are located at the back. Two other larger tentacles are found in the front. Size of the adult: 5-20 cm.

Naming

Parent - Leucothea Mertens, 1833
Synonymised names
Chiaja neapolitana Lesson, 1843
Chiaja palermitana Milne Edwards, 1857
Cydippe brevicostata Will, 1844
Eschscholtzia pectinata Kölliker, 1853
Eucharis multicornis Eschscholtz, 1928

Distribution

Subtropical zone of the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic, including the Mediterranean Sea.

Behavior

With the help of their rows of locomotor cilia, they move around and are able to resist currents by swimming without being able to cope with the strong currents in which they can drift.
Leucothea multicornis can be in large aggregates above reefs in spring and summer.

Habitat

These ctenophores are pelagic and are part of the necton.

Reproduction

Ctenaries are hermaphrodites and expel their gametes through the mouth.

Food

They have sticky cells that allow them to feed on plankton.

Cultural

Their alien appearance inspired the author of the film Abyss.