The Diphyidae are a family of siphonophores. These are colonial siphonophores with two nectophores (swimming bells) arranged one behind the other. The front one includes a somatocyst (extension of the gastrovascular system), while the hind one does not. The somatocyst often contains an oil droplet for buoyancy control. A nectosac (central cavity with muscular walls) in each nectophore allows the organism to swim efficiently.[1]

Diphyidae
Diphyes sp. from the Black Sea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hydrozoa
Order: Siphonophorae
Suborder: Calycophorae
Family: Diphyidae
Quoy & Gaimard, 1827[1]
Genera
See text

Systematics

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The World Register of Marine Species includes the following taxa in the family Diphyidae:[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Schuchert, Peter (2015). "Diphyidae Quoy & Gaimard, 1827". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  2. ^ "WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Diphyidae Quoy & Gaimard, 1827". marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2018-03-17.