comb-jelly
Rainbow-flashing sea blob
A comb-jelly is a translucent marine animal that propels itself through water using rows of cilia arranged like combs.
Despite their gelatinous appearance, comb-jellies are not true jellyfish—they lack stinging cells and belong to a separate phylum.
They're often bioluminescent, producing rainbow-like iridescence as their cilia beat.
Also called ctenophore.
Gelatinous zooplankton with cilia rows
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- gelatinousViscous and semisolid
Relating to the sea
- oceanicOf the sea
- planktonDrifting marine microlife
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- pelagicOf the open sea
abyssal · benthic · coastal · arctic · tropical · reef · salinity · hydrothermal
Viscous and semisolid
- squishySoft and easily compressed
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- jellylikeResembling a soft gel
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
fragile · wobbly · soft · diaphanous · gossamer · watery · tender · quivering
Steady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- light-emittingProducing visible radiation
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
blue-green · flash · deep-sea · radiance · luminous · glittering · sparkle · nocturnal
Drifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- pelagicOf the open sea
- neriticOf shallow coastal waters
ecosystem · copepods · larvae · bloom · invasive · prey · filter-feeder
Light-dispersing, multicolored
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
- opalescentShowing milky iridescence
pearlescent · shimmering · colorful · chromatic · kaleidoscopic · refractive · sheen · glinting
ctenophore
Gelatinous zooplankton with cilia rows
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- invertebrateAnimal sans backbone
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
gelatinous · lobes · pharynx
marine
Relating to the sea
pelagic · abyssal · benthic · coastal · arctic · tropical · reef · salinity · hydrothermal
gelatinous
Viscous and semisolid
- squishySoft and easily compressed
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
- jellylikeResembling a soft gel
delicate · fragile · wobbly · soft · diaphanous · gossamer · watery · tender · quivering · amorphous
glow
Steady, soft light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- light-emittingProducing visible radiation
shimmer · blue-green · flash · deep-sea · radiance · luminous · glittering · sparkle · nocturnal
plankton
Drifting marine microlife
- zooplanktonDrifting aquatic microorganisms
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- pelagicOf the open sea
neritic · ecosystem · copepods · larvae · bloom · invasive · prey · filter-feeder
prismatic
Light-dispersing, multicolored
- rainbowRefracted light arc
- diffractionWaves spreading past obstacles
- spectralGhostlike or wavelength-related
opalescent · pearlescent · shimmering · colorful · chromatic · kaleidoscopic · refractive · sheen · glinting
comb-jellycnidarian
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
medusa · box jellyfish · moon jelly · sea nettle · Portuguese man-of-war
comb-jellycrustacean
Aquatic arthropod with exoskeleton
crab · lobster · sea urchin · clam · oyster