CNIDARIA:
Cnidaria are incredibly diverse in form, have massive medusae( shaped like an umbrella) and corals, and box jellies with complex eyes. The name Cnidaria comes from the Greek word "cnidos," which means stinging nettle. Cnidarians are diverse and come in many shapes and sizes but there are some basic features of their anatomy that most share in common . The body wall of a cnidarian consists of three layers, an outer layer known as the epidermis, a middle layer called the mesoglea, and an inner layer referred to as the gastrodermis. The epidermis contains a collection of different types of cells. These include epitheliomuscular cells which contract and enable movement, interstitial cells that give create other cell types such as egg and sperm, cnidocytes , and receptor and nerve cells which collect and transmit sensory information.
The four major groups of cnidarians are:
Anthozoa - true corals, anemones, and sea pens;
Cubozoa - box jellies with complex eyes and potent toxins;
Hydrozoa - the most diverse group containing siphonophores, hydroids, fire corals, and many medusae;
Scyphozoa - the true jellyfish.
Cnidaria are incredibly diverse in form, have massive medusae( shaped like an umbrella) and corals, and box jellies with complex eyes. The name Cnidaria comes from the Greek word "cnidos," which means stinging nettle. Cnidarians are diverse and come in many shapes and sizes but there are some basic features of their anatomy that most share in common . The body wall of a cnidarian consists of three layers, an outer layer known as the epidermis, a middle layer called the mesoglea, and an inner layer referred to as the gastrodermis. The epidermis contains a collection of different types of cells. These include epitheliomuscular cells which contract and enable movement, interstitial cells that give create other cell types such as egg and sperm, cnidocytes , and receptor and nerve cells which collect and transmit sensory information.
The four major groups of cnidarians are:
Anthozoa - true corals, anemones, and sea pens;
Cubozoa - box jellies with complex eyes and potent toxins;
Hydrozoa - the most diverse group containing siphonophores, hydroids, fire corals, and many medusae;
Scyphozoa - the true jellyfish.