vorticellidae Definition

Vorticellidae is a family of small, aquatic animals belonging to the superclass/subphylum Ctenophore (more commonly known as sea gooseberries) or Placobranchia (more commonly known as sea slugs), depending on their taxonomic classification. They are characterized by a contractile pocket formed from the body wall which can be used to cling to surfaces and they have a feeding mechanism involving tentacles hanging down to capture small plankton and other food particles.