Though jelly is in the name, this goup, called ctenophores (pronounced tea-no-fores), are distinct from jellyfish. There are three species common around the UK:

1. Melon comb jelly (Beroe cucumis) – this is in the sub-group Nuda, which have no tentacles at all and look like a big swimming mouth, like pac man! These can be seen on the northern coast of Scotland.

2. Common northern comb jelly (Bolinopsis infundibulum) – This can a larger oblong shaped comb jelly (that can reach up to 15 cm in length) and can be found around Scotland. It has two small tentacles along its sides.

3. Sea gooseberry (Pleurobrachia pileus) – This is a smaller (1-2.5 cm high) more rounded comb jelly which has fishing tentacles up to 15-20 times the length of its body!

 

Behaviour

These species swims with combs, that give the comb jellies their characteristic shimmering appearance. These combs consist of plates of hairs (cilia) that beat in waves downwards, which produces a beautiful shimmering effect. These plates are phosphorescent (glow) at night. All comb jellies are predatory, taking plankton from the water column by swimming mouth first. They use an organ called a colloblast that squirts a glue like substance onto the prey.

Size

A few millimetres to up to 1.5 metres long, depending on the species!

Status

Common.

Distribution

Dependent on the species.

When to see

Summer time.

Facts

Ctenophore means comb bearing in greek.