Thalassocalyce
Thalassocalyce is a genus of ctenophore, or comb jellies, known from the California Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and west north Atlantic. It is represented by a single species, Thalassocalyce inconstans, which is the only species in the family Thalassocalycidae and the order Thalassocalycida. T. inconstans is a pelagic ctenophore typically occurring in upper-mesopelagic depths, but has been observed at depths up to 3,500 m in Monterey Canyon.
| Thalassocalyce inconstans | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Ctenophora |
| Class: | Tentaculata |
| Order: | Thalassocalycida Madin & Harbison, 1978 |
| Family: | Thalassocalycidae Madin & Harbison, 1978 |
| Genus: | Thalassocalyce Madin & Harbison, 1978 |
| Species: | T. inconstans |
| Binomial name | |
| Thalassocalyce inconstans Madin & Harbison, 1978 | |
Due to their fragility, gelatinous zooplankton are inherently difficult to sample by traditional methods (i.e. net tows), and among ctenophorans Thalassocalyce inconstans is especially fragile having thin, flaccid tissues, likely contributing to broad under-sampling. The individual collection of undamaged specimens via scuba and novel instrumentation (e.g. Remotely Operated Vehicles, submersibles, and imaging systems) has allowed for more robust investigation of T. inconstans.