What is "thalassocalycida"

Thalassocalycida is a monospecific order of ctenophore, or comb jellies, known from the California Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and west north Atlantic. The order was erected by description of Thalassocalyce inconstans collected in slope water off the coast of New England. T. inconstans is a pelagic ctenophore typically occurring in upper-mesopelagic depths, but has been observed at depths up to 3,500 m in Monterey Canyon.

Due to their fragility, gelatinous zooplankton are inherently difficult to sample by traditional methods (i.e. net tows), and among ctenophorans Thalassocalyce inconstans is especially fragile having thin, flaccid tissues, likely contributing to broad under-sampling. The individual collection of undamaged specimens via SCUBA and novel instrumentation (e.g. Remotely Operated Vehicles, submersibles, and imaging systems) has allowed for more robust investigation of T. inconstans.