Coeloplana meteoris


Coeloplana meteoris, is a species of benthic comb jelly native to the Indo-Pacific region that has also been found in the Arabian-Persian gulf. They grow up to a few centimeters in diameter.

Description

Like other platyctenids, it has a flattened underside and two tentacles that extend from tentacle sheathes on its aboral side. These sheathes are more prominent in Coeloplana meteoris than in other species of platyctenids, giving it its recognizable shape. The three-dimensional nature of its body is unusual among platyctenes.

Ecology

This comb jelly lives freely on soft sediment, unlike other benthic ctenophora which are typically parasitic.
They are hermaphroditic like most platyctenids, and are also capable of asexual reproduction via body fission and regeneration.

Taxonomy

Based on recent morphological and genetic analysis, it has been suggested that the species Ctenoplana neritica is a juvenile form of Coeloplana meteoris. The same analysis suggests that Coeloplana meteoris may be a member of a sister clade to Vallicula under the new genus Benthoplana rather than being a member of Coeloplana.