About Neis cordigera Lesson, 1829
Neis is a monotypic genus of nudan ctenophores, meaning it contains only one species: Neis cordigera. This species, which is commonly called the Winged Pocket Comb Jelly, occurs only near Australia. Like all beroids, it is a free-swimming organism that is part of the plankton community. It is among the largest species in its class, and often grows to over 30 cm (12 in) in length. Its body is somewhat flattened, and it is distinguished by a pair of trailing gelatinous "wings" that extend past the aboral tip. Like other comb jellies, the body wall of nudans is made up of an outer epidermis and an inner gastrodermis, with a jelly-like mesoglea layer between the two. The mesoglea contains pigments, which give many nudan species a faint pink color; Neis cordigera may range in color from yellowish to deep orange-red. For Neis cordigera, the aboral end is extended into two large lobes, and its vascular system is undivided.
