Phylum Cnidaria
Find the similarities….
Stinging tentacles surrounding circular mouth Radial symmetry Soft Bodies Stinging tentacles surrounding circular mouth Radial symmetry Only one opening (mouth) Leads to GV cavity Most live in the sea
Compare the two shapes Polyp Medusa
Some interesting pictures…
Three Classes Class Hydrozoa: ex. Fire corals, Hydra, Portuguese man-o-war The most diverse group Have dominant polyp OR medusa stage
Class Scyphozoa ex. True Jellyfish >200 species All marine Free-swimming, dominant medusa stage
Class Anthozoa ex. Corals, sea anemones, sea pens >2700 species (mostly marine) Alternate between polyp and medusa phase