Ctenophores Aren't Just Beautiful. They're Biological Wonders
5 hours ago
- Ctenophores, or comb jellies, are one of the earliest branching animal lineages, possibly predating sponges as the sister group to all other animals.
- They possess simple nervous systems and muscles, challenging assumptions about early animal complexity.
- Ctenophores are key to studying the evolution of nervous systems, bioluminescence, and adaptation to extreme environments like deep-sea pressure.
- Some species can reverse their development from adult to larval stages, and they have unique lipids for deep-sea survival.