Scribd
Upload
115 views4 pages

Coelenterata

This document discusses the phylum Coelenterata. It describes their characteristics such as being multicellular, diploblastic animals with radial or bilateral symmetry. It also discusses their classification into three classes: Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, and Actinozoa.

Uploaded by

Saba Nazir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
115 views4 pages

Coelenterata

This document discusses the phylum Coelenterata. It describes their characteristics such as being multicellular, diploblastic animals with radial or bilateral symmetry. It also discusses their classification into three classes: Hydrozoa, Scyphozoa, and Actinozoa.

Uploaded by

Saba Nazir
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Phylum Coelenterata

Characteristics

• These are the multicellular animals with tissue grade of organization.


• Individuals are radially or bilaterally symmetrical.
• Diploblastic body consisting of outer layer of ectoderm, inner endoderm and
an intermediate of non-cellular gelatinous mesoglea.
• Acoelomate i.e., coelom is absent.
• They are aquatic, mostly marine except a few freshwater forms like Hydra.
• They have a central gastro-vascular cavity called Coelenteron with a single
opening, mouth on hypostome.
• Digestion is intracellular as well as extracellular. Anus is not found.
• Mouth is encircled by short and slender tentacles in one or more whorls.
• The tentacles are meant for capturing food, adhesion and defence.
• Tentacles and the body bears cnidoblasts or cnidocytes which contain the
stinging cells called nematocysts. These are also known as cnidarians.
• Respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems are absent.
• Reproduction takes place by both ways asexually (budding) and sexually (by
formation of gametes).
• Indirect development through a ciliated larva called planula.
• They exhibit polymorphism I.e., the phenomenon of occurrence of different
types of individuals or zooids. Zooids are mainly of two types; Polyps (sessile,
cylindrical form and asexual zooid) like Adamsia and Medusae (free
swimming, umbrella-shaped and sexual zooid) like Aurelia (jellyfish).
• Some cnidarians exhibit Alternation of generation or metagenesis, i.e.,
polyps produce medusae asexually and medusae produce the polyps sexually
e.g., Obelia(sea fur)
Classification (ASH)

CLASS HYDROZOA (Gr., hydra = water; zoios = animal)


• There are two main types of zooids, the polyp and medusa.
• They exhibit polymorphism.
• Many exhibits alteration of generation or metagenesis.
• Coelenteron with gastric filaments and without septa (or mesenteries).
• They are, mostly marine and colonial and some freshwater and solitary.
• Examples: Hydra, Obelia (sea-fur), Millepora (stinging coral), and Physalia
(Portuguese man of war)

CLASS SCYPHOZOA (Gr., skyphos = cup; zoios = animal)


• They are true medusae or large jelly-fishes, polypoid generation absent or
represented by small polyps.
• Medusae are large, bell or umbrella shaped, free swimming and sexual
zooids.
• Coelenteron with gastric filaments and may or may not be divided into four
gastric pouches by mesenteries.
• They are exclusively marine.
• Examples: Chiropsalmus Quadrumanus(four-handed box jellyfish),
Periphylla (helmet jellyfish), Aurelia Aurita (moon jellyfish), Rhizostoma
Pulmo (barrel jellyfish)

CLASS ACTINOZOA (ANTHOZOA) (Gr., anthos = flower; zoios =


animal
• Exclusively polyps, medusoid stage is altogether absent.
• Polyps are cylindrical form, sessile, and asexual zooids.
• Coelenteron is divided into 8 or more compartments by septa or
mesenteries.
• They are exclusively marine.
• Examples: Adamsia (sea anemone), Pennatula (sea pen), Gorgonia (sea-
fan), and Meandrina (brain coral),

You might also like