Phylum Cnidaria Pages

CNIDARIANS- “STINGING CELLS” SEA JELLIES SEA ANEMONES CORALS HYDRA

Just the facts… CARNIVORES STINGING CELLS CALLED NEMATOCYSTS HOLLOW CENTRAL CAVITY

Body Characteristics Body Symmetry: Radial Cell Organization: Cells form into muscle- like tissues, no organs or organ systems Reproduction: Sexual and Asexual Body Development: Zygote to Larva to Polyp to Adult

Cnidarian Anatomy POLYP SHAPED LIKE A VASE MOUTH OPENING AT TOP(ONE OPENING) MOST DO NOT MOVE AROUND (sessile) HYDRA

Cnidarian Anatomy MEDUSA BOWL-SHAPED FREE SWIMMING MOUTHS OPEN DOWNWARD SEA JELLY

HOW CNIDARIANS FEED CAPTURES PREY USING STINGING CELLS CALLED NEMATOCYSTS TENTACLES PULL FOOD INTO ITS MOUTH. FOOD IS DIGESTED IN ITS CENTRAL CAVITY AND EXPELLED THROUGH ITS MOUTH The Lion's Mane Jelly is a venomous SEA JELLY which can sting people with its long tentacles

CNIDARIAN REPRODUCTION SEXUAL SOME CARRY BOTH SPERM AND EGG. SOME ARE EITHER MALE OR FEMALE ASEXUAL BUDDING SPLITS INTO TWO

Throughout its life, the Sea Jelly is found in both a polyp and a medusa form.

Sea Jellies Sea jellies are invading!

CORAL A coral colony consists of hundreds or thousands of tiny polyps. Each polyp is an individual animal (basically a small anemone) but they live together as a group.

Coral Reefs Reefs are made when coral attaches itself to the ocean floor. When it dies its hard skeleton is left behind. The skeletons build up and form large masses. Australia's Great Barrier Reef

SEA ANEMONE These flower-like animals resemble plants, but they have a mouth at the center of their tentacles, and a primitive digestive system The Tealia anemone.

Hydra 3-8mm in length Live in fresh water Live in both body structures throughout their life – Polyp – Medusa Mouth surrounded by tentacles If disturbed, a barbed thread and poison is ejected from the nematocyst Hydra reproduce by budding