Euplokamis

Euplokamis is a genus of ctenophores, or comb jellies, belonging to the monotypic family Euplokamididae. It shares the common name sea gooseberry with species of the genus Pleurobrachia. After being originally described by Chun (1879), the family Euplokamididae was expanded by Mills (1987) due to the discovery of a new species, Euplokamis dunlapae. Further research indicated that Euplokamis should be identified from Mertensiidae due to the rows of combs and some compression. They may also be distinguished from the genus Pleurobrachia due to their more elongated shape. Additionally, various adaptations of Euplokamis have been observed such as the use of tentacles for movement/feeding, a complex nervous system, and bioluminescent capabilities. Other characteristics including a defined mesoderm, lack of stinging cells, developmental differences, and symmetry supported the reclassification of these organisms.

== Distribution & Habitat == Euplokamis have been found in fossil records dating back to the Cambrian period, part of the Paleozoic Era, and it is estimated that some species may have evolved before this period. Originally, Cnidarians and Ctenophores were classified under the same phyla, Coelenterata. Ctenophore bodies are made up of a gelatin substance, similar to Cnidarians, but the multiple rows of combs present in fossil records are unique to ctenophores. Records of Euplokamis sp. indicate they are distributed widely around the world, but are most often found in warm coastal waters. Euplokamis prefer marine, or saltwater, environments and are classified as free swimmers, due to their ability to move through the water column. They have been identified in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Pacific, the Gulf of Maine, and off the coast of Sweden. However, since this genus was originally grouped in the family Pleurobrachiidae, there is limited information regarding their actual distribution and habitat. thumb|405x405px|Figure 1. Pelagic ctenophores: (a) Beroe ovata, (b) unidentified cydippid (c) "Tortugas red" cydippid, (d) Bathocyroe fosteri, (e) Mnemiopsis leidyi, and (f) Ocyropsis sp. from Wikipedia Commons