Histes

Histes, also known as *Histiella usta*, are small, translucent, and gelatinous marine organisms belonging to the phylum Ctenophora, commonly referred to as comb jellies. They are often found in coastal waters worldwide, particularly in temperate and tropical regions. Unlike their larger relatives, histes are typically less than 1 cm in size, giving them a delicate, almost microscopic appearance.

These organisms are characterized by their eight rows of ciliary comb plates, which they use for locomotion by beating in coordinated waves. Their bodies are often transparent, allowing internal structures like the digestive system and reproductive organs to be visible. Histes feed primarily on plankton, including small crustaceans and protozoa, using tentacles equipped with sticky cells called colloblasts to capture prey.

Histes play a role in marine ecosystems by controlling plankton populations and serving as a food source for larger marine animals, such as fish and invertebrates. They reproduce sexually, with both male and female individuals releasing gametes into the water column. Fertilized eggs develop into free-swimming larvae before maturing into adult histes.

Due to their small size and gelatinous nature, histes are rarely encountered by humans. They are not considered harmful, as they lack stinging cells (nematocysts) found in some other ctenophores and cnidarians. Their study contributes to understanding marine biodiversity and the ecological dynamics of planktonic communities. Histes are often observed in laboratory settings for research on ciliary movement and marine biology.