Ptychophorae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ptychophorae |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Scyphozoa |
| Order: | Rhizostomeae |
| Suborder: | Ptychophorae Gershwin & Davie, 2013 |
Ptychophorae is a group of jellyfish that scientists call a "suborder." These jellyfish are a type of rhizostome jellyfish, which means they have many small mouths instead of one big one. Scientists Lisa-ann Gershwin and Peter Davie first identified this group in 2013.
The name "Ptychophorae" comes from ancient Greek words. Ptychos means "fold" or "layer," and phoras means "bearing." This name describes how their special sensory organs, called rhopalia, are covered or "hooded."
What Makes Ptychophorae Jellyfish Special?
Ptychophorae jellyfish have several unique features that help scientists tell them apart from other jellyfish.
- Their body shape is round, like a globe.
- Their feeding arms, called oral arms, join together into one short, ridged column.
- They have special sensory organs called rhopalia that are covered like a hood. These rhopalia do not have the usual small dips or pits.
- They have four "velar lappets" in each section of their bell. These are small flaps around the edge.
- They also have two uneven "ocular lappets" in each section. These are small flaps near their eye spots.
- Their ring-shaped muscles are very noticeable.
- The small openings under their bell, called subgenital ostia, are very tiny and round.
- Their stomach is large and circular.
- They have four main canals in each section of their bell. These canals start without branches and are ridged. Towards the edge of the bell, they join into large open spaces filled with a jelly-like material.
Understanding Ptychophorae Jellyfish Classification
Scientists use a system called taxonomy to group living things. This helps them understand how different species are related. Ptychophorae is a suborder, which is a group within a larger order.
- Family Bazingidae
- Genus Bazinga
So far, the only known member of this suborder is a jellyfish called Bazinga rieki.
