Comb jelly

For over a hundred years scientists have assumed that sponges (yep, the animal that inspired your kitchen sponge), are our most distant animal relative. And why not? They sit on the sea floor, filtering water, and generally doing nothing much (they don't have neurons, muscles or true tissues). Sponges certainly look like they belong in ancient history*. Then in

Reproduction, Fisheries, Bioluminescence, Feeding, Jellyfish, Anemones & Relatives

A 500-million-year-old comb jelly is so well-preserved that it’s possible to see it had a nervous system more complex than that of modern comb jellies

​The Illuminating World of the CtenophoreCtenophore is a small and absolutely beautiful creature. Known as comb jellies, they use eight longitudinal rows of cilia for locomotion. When the cilia beat, light is scattered, producing a rainbow of colors. The beating combs act like a prism, breaking the light into its color components. Some species of comb jellies (like so many animals in the deep sea) make their own light, called bioluminescence.

The bloody-belly comb jelly's deep red color disguises it in the ocean's midnight zone.

A look at some of the ocean's deep-sea residents.

These captivating animals will be featured in an upcoming Monterey Bay Aquarium exhibit. View must-see photos and videos.

Cestum veneris [Venus Girdle comb jelly]