This morning, as we were getting in the water to dive, we encountered a small population of spot-winged comb jellies just below the surface of the water. Comb jellies are in the phylum Ctenophora. They look a bit like jellyfish (and are often mistaken for them), but aren't related to them. Comb jellies don't have the stinging nematocysts that jellyfish possess.
Rows of cilia, called combs, are the source of their name.
Comb jellies feed on zooplankton just beneath the surface. When disturbed at night, they produce a greenish glow.
These individuals were about 3 inches long.
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| The cilia combs are visible at the top edges of the lobes, above the brown spots. |
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