ctenophore

noun

cteno·​phore ˈte-nə-ˌfȯr  ˈtē- 

: any of a phylum (Ctenophora) of marine animals superficially resembling jellyfishes but having biradial symmetry and swimming by means of eight bands of transverse ciliated plates

called also comb jelly

ctenophoran

tə-ˈnä-fə-rən 

noun or adjective

Examples of ctenophore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some of these species came from early animal lineages, like the ctenophores, the poriferans, the placozoans, and the cnidarians. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025

Going Deep Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are voracious predators in fragile bodies. —Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 20 Oct. 2024

Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are transparent creatures that are not closely related to jellyfish, despite their name. —Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024

Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are marine invertebrates with squishy bodies propelled by hair-like cilia. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2024

Unlike ctenophores, however, placozoans have no neurons. —Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek kten-, kteis + pherein to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

circa 1882, in the meaning defined above