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Published byCody Harper Modified over 9 years ago
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Kingdom Animalia Phylum Cnidaria
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Characteristics Radial symmetry Diploblastic organization, 2 official tissue layers Gelatinous Mesoglea Gastrovascular cavity Nerve net Cnidocytes called nematocysts
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Coiled nematocyst
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Reproduction/Life Cycle Most alternate generations between polyp and medusa form Polyp – asexual, sessile, produce more polyps (colonial) or medusae (pl.) by budding… Medusae – dioecious & free swimming; fertilized larva (Planula) settles & forms a polyp
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Cnidarians
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Feeding Use nematocysts to stun or kill prey Tentacles bring food to mouth Digested in gastrovascular cavity
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Support and Locomotion Hydrostatic Skeleton (supported by water) Polyps – somersault, inchworm, walk on their tentacles… Medusae – swim, use water currents
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Classification Class Hydrozoa Most variable class Class Scyphozoa True jellyfish Class Cubozoa Cube jellyfishes Class Anthozoa Largest class
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Class Hydrozoa Mostly marine, but only class with freshwater members! Most display alternation of generations, but polyps are dominant form Cnidocytes – only in epidermis Gametes released outside, from epidermis Medusae have a ‘velum’ (shelf-like lip), used for jet propulsion
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Hydra Freshwater Polyps only, no medusae
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Gonozooid (reproductive zooid) Gastrozooid (feeding zooid) Obelia
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Portugese Man-o-War, Physalia Colony of polyps… Cannot swim (floats) Cnidocytes are lethal to small vertebrates and dangerous to humans
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Class Scyphozoa “True Jellyfish” – medusa dominant body form Cnidocytes in the epi + gastrodermis Gametes released into gastroderm, then out of mouth Medusae lack a velum
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Moon Jellies, Aurelia
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Stinging Nettle, Mastigias
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Lions Mane, Cyanea Record bell was 7 feet across, 120 ft. tentacles!
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Class Cubozoa Medusae are cuboidal Polyps are reduced or absent Tentacles hang from corners Ex. Sea Wasp (type of Box Jellyfish)
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Class Anthozoa Polyps only, no medusae Gastrovascular cavity is divided into sections, with mesentaries Sexual and asexual reproduction Sea anenomes, corals, sea fans
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Sea Anemones
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Corals Sea Fans
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