Enditele

Enditele are a group of small, slender, free-swimming marine animals belonging to the phylum Cnidaria. They are often found in temperate and tropical seas, where they inhabit pelagic zones, drifting with ocean currents. Enditele are characterized by their jellyfish-like appearance, though they are not true jellyfish. They possess a bell-shaped body, which they use for propulsion by contracting and expanding, and tentacles that hang down from the bell. These tentacles are typically equipped with nematocysts, stinging cells that can be used to capture prey and for defense. Their diet usually consists of plankton and small invertebrates. Enditele reproduce both sexually and asexually. Some species exhibit a complex life cycle involving both a polyp and a medusa stage, while others may reproduce solely as medusae. Their exact classification within Cnidaria is subject to ongoing research, but they are generally considered to be related to hydromedusae. Their ecological role is primarily as a food source for larger marine animals and as predators of smaller planktonic organisms, contributing to the balance of marine ecosystems.