Written by Jonathan Wojcik While commonly confused with the
jellyfish and other Cnidaria, the comb jellies belong to their
own distinct phylum, the Ctenophora, believed to be one of the
planet's oldest and most basal forms of animal life. They are so
named for their comb-like rows of beating cilia, which may
appear brilliantly colored as they catch the light. This makes
ctenophores the largest organisms to use cilia for swimming,
like microscopic protozoa. Like the jellyfish, ctenophores
consist of little more than a gelatinous "pouch" lined inside
and out with a thin layer of cells. Strictly carnivorous, they
engulf microorganisms, other comb jellies or even small fish and
crustaceans, rapidly liquefying prey with their digestive
enzymes. Some comb jellies may eat several times their body
weight in a day, and several species have become serious
invasive pests. Different orders of comb jelly exhibit highly
diverse body types; the Cydippida are the largest and most
common order, with simple pod-shaped body and