description Charistephane fugiens Overview
Open-ocean lobate ctenophore with a highly transparent body; its epithet 'fugiens' (Latin: fleeing) alludes to its rapid escape response when disturbed.
help Charistephane fugiens FAQ
Why is Charistephane fugiens called 'the fleeing one'?
The species epithet 'fugiens' is Latin for 'fleeing,' and it alludes to the animal's rapid escape response when disturbed. It is an unusually evocative name for a ctenophore, most of which are slow drifters.
Is Charistephane fugiens actually a jellyfish?
Despite the common shorthand, it is a ctenophore, or comb jelly, not a true jellyfish. It swims using rows of tiny cilia rather than pulsing a bell, and it lacks the stinging cells that true jellyfish use.
How transparent is Charistephane fugiens?
It has a highly transparent, glassy body, typical of open-ocean ctenophores where visibility is the main survival strategy. As a lobate ctenophore, it has oral lobes and uses its cilia rows to move and feed.
Where would you find Charistephane fugiens?
It is an open-ocean, pelagic species, living in the water column well away from the seafloor or coast. Its transparency suits this habitat, where there is no cover to hide behind.
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