tentillar

Tentillar is an adjective used in zoological terminology to describe features related to tentilla, the small side branches or lobes on certain tentacles that bear nematocysts for prey capture. The term is derived from tentillum, a diminutive form referring to a small tentacle. In cnidarians such as some hydrozoans and siphonophores, tentilla are specialized structures arranged along a primary tentacle and playing a key role in prey capture, defense, and sometimes sensory function.

In descriptive morphology, tentillar features may be discussed in terms of their number, size, arrangement, and tissue composition. Researchers might refer to tentillar nematocysts, tentillar lobes, or other tentillar elements to specify particular parts of the tentacle system. The variability of tentilla—ranging from numerous small units to fewer, larger ones—can be diagnostic in comparing taxa and understanding feeding strategies within the group.

Tentillar contrasts with broader terms such as tentacular, which pertain to tentacles in a general sense, rather than to the specialized tentilla. The concept is primarily used in the study of colonial cnidarians, including siphonophores, and in descriptions of hydrozoan morphology where tentilla contribute to the functional anatomy of the colony or organism.

See also: tentacle, tentillum, siphonophore, hydrozoan, cnidarian, nematocyst.