Acraspeda

/əˈkræspɪdə/ noun

Definition

A group of jellyfish lacking a complete velum (a membrane that controls water movement).

Etymology

From Greek a- (without) + kraspis/kraspeda (border, fringe, hem). The term describes jellyfish anatomically defined by the absence of a particular structural fringe.

Kelly Says

These jellyfish represent an old evolutionary branch that splits from true jellyfish—and their body plan is so ancient that some ocean researchers think they're glimpses into what early ocean life actually looked like.

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