Cnidarians

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Cnidaria

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Phylum of animalia that includes corals, sea anenomes, and jellyfish. Cnidaria derives from "nettle", meaning stinging.

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Epidermis (Ectoderm)

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The outer layer of a Cnidarian body, has cells that aid in capturing food and cells that secret mucus.

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Gastrodermis (Endoderm)

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Has cells that produce digestive enzymes and break up food particles. (Functions as means of digestion)

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Mesoglea

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Middle layer between epidermis and gastrodermis, jellylike substance. Way more prominent in Medusa body forms

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Gastrovascular cavity

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Central cavity in the body of a Cnidaria, extends into the hollow tentacles

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Polyp

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Sessile Cnidarian body form in which body is shaped like a cylinder or a bag that opens and closes at the top, e.g. Corals and sea anemones

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Medusa

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Non-sessile Cnidarian body form in which body is shaped like an umbrella, with the mouth an tentacles hanging down in the water, e.g. jellyfish

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Radial symmetry

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The bodies of Cnidarians extend out like a cylinder or a umbrella from a central axis, creating such symmetry. Allows them to sting and capture prey from any direction.

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Cnidocytes

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The stinging cells within Cnidarians, consists of a cnidocil and nematocyst inside (both play a role in capturing prey). Located along tentacles

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Nematocyst

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Long, coiled, tubular harpoonlike structure located inside a cnidocyte, consists of venom that helps to paralyze prey when coiling around it

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Cnidocil (trigger)

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The "trigger" on a cnidocyte; when a stimuli brushes across this part, it "triggers" the release of the nematocyst that captures the prey

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Plankton

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Organisms that cannot swim against a current

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Nerve Net

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The nervous system of Cnidarians: consists of cells with long, thin fibers that respond to mechanical or chemical stimuli. Fibers connect to form this network

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Mechanoreception

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The ability to respond to a stimulus of touch or pressure.

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Chemoreception

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The ability to respond to a chemical stimuli, crucial to finding and testing foods and detecting harmful substances

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Photoreception

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The ability to respond to changes in light intensity

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Sexual Reproduction

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One mechanism of Cnidarian reproduction; egg and sperm are released into water and fertilize, and then attach to some surface and grow into an adult (in some cases, the sperm comes to the female and the egg is fertilized within the animal)

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Fertilization

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The beginning of a new organism, occurs when an egg and sperm unite

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Larva

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What a Cnidarian organism grows into after fertilization, use cilia to help transport

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Cilia

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Small hairlike structures on larva that help it move along by beating back and forth.

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Asexual Reproduction

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Reproduction without eggs and sperm, only one parent involved. Common in Cnidarians

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Budding

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Type of Cnidarian asexual reproduction: cells on the side or base of the parent begin to bulge out and form a new organism; bud may remain attached to parent, forming a colony, or detach to become its own organism

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Regeneration

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Process by which Cnidarians replace lost or damaged parts (E.g. Hydra regrowing a lost tentacle)

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Cnidarian Class: Hydrozoa

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E.g. Hydra, Obelia Colony, and Portuguese man-of-war. All polyps

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Cnidarian Class: Scyphozoa

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E.g. Common jellies and moon jellies (true jellies), medusa body forms

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Cnidarian Class: Anthozoa

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E.g. Sea anemones and corals

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Cnidarian Class: Cubozoa

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E.g. Box jellies