Phylum of marine colenterates characterized by eight comb rows of fused cilia on the body surface. In contrast to CNIDARIA they lack stinging cells, but they are voracious predators and possess sticky cells (colloblasts) for capturing prey. Most species are transparent and many exhibit bioluminescence.

DUI

D037302 MeSH Browser

CUI

M0412330

Previous indexing

Cnidaria (1969-1997); Invertebrates (1970-2002)

History note

2003

Public note

2003