Conica (Hydrozoa)

Taxobox
name = Conica

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Aequorea coerulescens" (Aequoreidae)
regnum = Animalia
subregnum = Eumetazoa
phylum = Cnidaria
subphylum = Medusozoa
classis = Hydrozoa
subclassis = Leptolinae
ordo = Leptomedusae
subordo = Conica
subordo_authority = Broch, 1910
subdivision_ranks = Superfamilies
subdivision =
Campanulinoidea (disputed)

Plumularioidea

Sertularioidea
and see text

Conica are a cnidarian suborder of the Leptomedusae (thecate hydroids). They make up the bulk of their order; their internal relationships are not well resolved, and most of the roughly 30 families are not yet assigned to a superfamily.

They are named for the distinctive shape of their hypostome, the "tip" of the polyps' body where the mouth is located. As opposed to the smaller thecate suborder Proboscidoidea with their elongated hypostome, the Conica have a simple hypostome without a pregastric cavity and a shape that is generally round or conical. [Schuchert (2008)]

Well-known members of the Conica are the "air fern" ("Sertilaria argentea") of the Sertulariidae which is sold dried as novelty "plants" and aquarium ornaments, and the Crystal Jelly ("Aequorea victoria") of the Aequoreidae, a bioluminescent hydrozoan.

Systematics [Schuchert (2008), MarineSpecies.org (2008)]

SUBORDER CONICA
* Basal and "incertae sedis"
** Family Aequoreidae
** Family Barcinidae
** Family Cirrholoveniidae
** Family Clathrozoellidae - often included in Clathrozoidae or placed in Anthomedusae
** Family Clathrozoidae Stechow, 1921
** Family Dipleurosomatidae
** Family Eirenidae - includes Eutimidae, Timoididae
** Family Haleciidae
** Family Lafoeidae - includes Hebellidae
** Family Laodiceidae
** Family Lovenellidae - includes Eucheilotidae
** Family Malagazziidae
** Family Melicertidae
** Family Mitrocomidae Haeckel, 1879
** Family Octocannoidae
** Family Orchistomatidae
** Family Phialellidae
** Family Sugiuridae
** Family Syntheciidae
** Family Teclaiidae
** Family Tiarannidae
** Family Tiaropsidae Boero, Bouillon & Danovaro, 1987
** Family Zygophylaxidae - often included in Lafoeidae
* Superfamily Campanulinoidea (disputed)
** Family Blackfordiidae
** Family Calycellidae - often included in Campanulinidae
** Family Campanulinidae
** Family Lineolariidae - often included in Campanulinidae
* Superfamily Plumularioidea (4 families)
* Superfamily Sertularioidea
** Family Sertulariidae Fleming, 1828
** Family Thyroscyphidae

Footnotes

References

* (2008): [http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=16353 Conica] . Retrieved 2008-JUL-08.
* (2008): [http://www.ville-ge.ch/mhng/hydrozoa/hydrozoa-directory.htm The Hydrozoa Directory] - [http://www.ville-ge.ch/mhng/hydrozoa/lepto/conica.htm Suborder Conica Broch, 1910] . Retrieved 2008-JUL-08.