The Characteristics of

Phylum Cnidaria
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory
systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
 oral

Radial
Symmetry

aboral
Radial Symmetry
Jellyfish
Phylum Cnidaria
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Blind Sac Gut
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Diploblastic- two germ layers
Phylum Cnidaria
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Nematocysts
Nematocyst Picture

Nematocyst
 More Nematocysts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=-
Tp38DUjUnM&feature=endscreen
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Nerve Net
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Diffusion Across the Body Wall
Sea Anemones
Circulation in a
Moon Jellyfish
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
 The Cnidarian Life Cycle

The Cnidarian
Life Cycle
 Characteristics of
Phylum Cnidaria
radial symmetry
blind sac gut (= coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity)
diploblastic with mesoglea
polyp and medusa body forms
nematocysts (= specialized stinging capsules)
nerve net
lack excretory, circulatory & respiratory systems
complex life cycle
many colonial forms exhibiting polymorphism
Coloniality and
Polymorphism
 Poly,orphism in the
Portuguese Man- of-War
Coloniality
Coral
Phylum Cnidaria