siphonophore

noun

si·​pho·​no·​phore sī-ˈfä-nə-ˌfȯr 

ˈsī-fə-nə-

: any of an order (Siphonophora) of colonial, free-swimming or floating, marine hydrozoans (such as the Portuguese man-of-war) that are mostly delicate, transparent, and colored and have zooids possessing specialized functions (such as feeding or locomotion)

… startling brilliance is often seen among siphonophores, gelatinous colonial animals whose different members work in unison.

—William J. Broad

Most siphonophores are small, transparent creatures of the open sea. They float at the surface among the plankton or swim actively, usually at shallow depths. As carnivores, they capture small planktonic animals in their net of tentacles.

—Stephen Jay Gould

Examples of siphonophore in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bioluminescence is commonly spotted among fish, squid and gelatinous zooplankton, such as jellyfish, siphonophores, comb jellies, and other animals that are mostly made of water. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

Unlike most animals that grow as a single entity, this siphonophore is a composite of thousands of cloned bodies, each specialized for different tasks. —Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024

The woolly siphonophores arrange themselves in much the same structure as the giant siphonophores, with both species sharing a similar float and a similar stem. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023

That said, the majority of siphonophores stick to the open ocean, with longer siphonophores drifting in deeper waters than shorter siphonophores, since powerful currents close to the surface can shred siphonophore colonies apart. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek siphōn + pherein to carry — more at bear

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

siphonophore

noun

si·​pho·​no·​phore sī-ˈfän-ə-ˌfō(ə)r  ˈsī-fə-nə- 

-ˌfȯ(ə)r

: any of an order (Siphonophora) of compound free-swimming or floating pelagic hydrozoans see portuguese man-of-war