Campanulariidae is a family of
animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...
s in the
phylum
In biology, a phylum (; : phyla) is a level of classification, or taxonomic rank, that is below Kingdom (biology), kingdom and above Class (biology), class. Traditionally, in botany the term division (taxonomy), division has been used instead ...
Cnidaria
Cnidaria ( ) is a phylum under kingdom Animalia containing over 11,000 species of aquatic invertebrates found both in fresh water, freshwater and marine environments (predominantly the latter), including jellyfish, hydroid (zoology), hydroids, ...
, or stinging-celled animals. Campanulariidae is composed entirely of
hydroids
Hydroids are a life stage for most animals of the class Hydrozoa, small predators related to jellyfish.
Some hydroids such as the freshwater '' Hydra'' are solitary, with the polyp attached directly to the substrate. When these produce buds, ...
, a Greek term meaning "water animals" applied to the plant-like polyp colonies of the class
Hydrozoa
Hydrozoa (hydrozoans; from Ancient Greek ('; "water") and ('; "animals")) is a taxonomy (biology), taxonomic class (biology), class of individually very small, predatory animals, some solitary and some colonial, most of which inhabit saline wat ...
. All species of the Campanulariidae are aquatic in habitat, primarily inhabiting coastal regions and tidal pools.
''
Obelia
''Obelia'' is a genus of hydrozoans, a class of mainly marine and some freshwater animal species that have both polyp and medusa stages in their life cycle. Hydrozoa belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, which are aquatic (mainly marine) organisms ...
'' contains probably the most well-known species of this phylum, and include four species. All are around 20–35 cm in height with a series of branches carrying the individual polyps. One species, ''
Obelia longissima'', is unique for its ability to produce obelin, a photoprotein which allows for bioluminescence.
The genus ''
Laomedea'' includes such species as ''
Laomedea angulata'' and ''
Laomedea flexuosa'', which are similar in appearance to the ''Obelia'', though they are smaller and lack a medusa stage present in ''Obelia''.
Taxonomy and systematics
The following genera are classified in the family Campanulariidae:
* ''
Campanularia
''Campanularia'' is a genus of hydrozoans, in the family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the ...
''
* ''
Clytia
In Greek mythology, the name Clytie (Ancient Greek: Κλυτίη, Ionic) or Clytia (, Attic and other dialects) may refer to:
*Clytie (Oceanid), known for her unrequited love for Helios. Out of jealousy, Clytie arranged the death of Leucothoe, ...
''
* ''
Gastroblasta''
* ''
Gonothyraea''
* ''
Hartlaubella''
* ''
Laomedea''
* ''
Obelia
''Obelia'' is a genus of hydrozoans, a class of mainly marine and some freshwater animal species that have both polyp and medusa stages in their life cycle. Hydrozoa belongs to the phylum Cnidaria, which are aquatic (mainly marine) organisms ...
''
* ''
Orthopyxis''
* ''
Rhizocaulus''
* ''
Silicularia''
* ''
Zelounies'' (nomen nudum)
See also
*''
Clytia gregaria''
Footnotes
References
* (2008)
Campanulariidae Retrieved 2008-JUL-08.
Leptothecata
Cnidarian families
{{Leptothecata-stub