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Dichotomous key to the identification of the major groups of conspicuous jellyfish |
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Key to Jellyfish
| Observation | Classification |
| Jellyfish with cilia plates arranged into rows running along the long body axis |
Ctenophora |
| Jellyfish without cilia plates arranged into rows running along the long body axis |
Cnidaria |
Key to Cnidarians
| Observation | Classification |
| Umbrella robust, without velum; opaque; never cuboidal in shape; can get large |
Scyphozoa |
| Umbrella robust, with velum; transluscent; cuboidal in shape; can get large |
Cubozoa |
| Umbrella delicate, with velum; transparent; variable shape; rarely large |
Hydrozoa |
Key to Scyphozoa
| Observation | Classification |
| Umbrella without marginal tentacles; with oral arms |
Rhizostomeae |
| Umbrella with marginal tentacles; with oral arms |
Semaeostomeae |
| Umbrella with marginal tentacles; without oral arms |
Coronata |
Key to Cubozoans
| Observation | Classification |
| With a single stalk bearing many tentacles arising from each lower corner of umbrella |
Chirodropidae |
| With one or more stalks each bearing a single tentacle arising from each lower corner of umbrella |
Carybdeidae |
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Key to Identifying Jellyfish