Ctenes are locomotor organs found in comb jellies (phylum Ctenophora). According to the provided reference, a ctene is:
- A locomotor organ consisting of a row of strong cilia whose bases are fused.
In simpler terms, ctenes are rows of comb-like plates formed by fused cilia that are used for swimming. These plates beat in coordinated waves, propelling the comb jelly through the water. They function as an organ, described as a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function. The reference also lists "comb-plate" as a synonym for ctene.
Therefore, ctenes are essentially the "oars" that comb jellies use to move.
