Classification:
Phylum: Ctenophora
Class: Tentaculata
Scientific Name: Pleurobrachia bachei
Common Name: Sea Gooseberry
Class: Tentaculata
Scientific Name: Pleurobrachia bachei
Common Name: Sea Gooseberry
General Characteristics:
The sea gooseberry is a comb jelly that can reach a length of 20mm. It has two tentacles that can reach 150mm in length. Their bodies are composed of 99% water. Eight rows of comb plates containing fused macrocilia are controlled by an apical organ. They are incapable of producing light because they lack the necessary photoprotein. They are able to catch prey (copepods, plankton) with their pair of tentacles that contain specialized adhesive cells. The sea gooseberry is planktonic during their entire life cycle and can reproduced either sexually or asexually depending on environmental conditions.
Habitat:
The sea gooseberry can be found along the west coast of North America. They prefer to stay near the surface of the water.
Importance to Humans:
Other than helping to maintain a healthy marine environment, the sea gooseberry has no known importance to humans.
Sources:
"Pleurobrachia bachei". Wallawalla.edu. Retrieved from: http://www.wallawalla.edu/academics/departments/biology/rosario/inverts/Ctenophora/Pleurobrachia_bachei.html.