Phylum Cnidaria

Phylum Cnidaria
Radially symmetric
Dimorphic
Cnidocytes
~10,000 species
Aquatic
Taxonomic Characteristics
Diploblastic
Epiderm & hypoderm
Tissues
Taxonomic Characteristics
Diploblastic
Incomplete digestive
tract
coelenteron

Taxonomic Characteristics
Diploblastic
Incomplete digestive tract
Decentralized nervous system

Taxonomic Characteristics
Diploblastic
Incomplete digestive tract
Decentralized nervous system
Cnidocytes

Everted nematocyst
firing nematocyst
Hydrazoan stinging and capturing
prey
Cnidarian Dimorphism
Cnidarian Dimorphic Life Cycle
Colonial hydrozoan
Cnidarian Taxonomy
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Hydrozoa
Class Scyphozoa
Class Cubozoa
Class Anthozoa
Phylogeny of Cnidaria

Cladogram based on
molecular systematic
data
Class Hydrozoa
Most varied and derived of the cnidarian
groups
Includes freshwater species (hydra spp)
Colonial species common
Most have typical dimorphic life cycle
Examples of polyp-only forms (hydra)
Examples of medusa-only forms


Atypical Hydrozoans
Hydra
Lacks medusa stage
Asexual - budding
Sexual - gametes
Atypical Hydrozoans
Gonionemus reduced polyp form
Colonial Hydrozoans
Colony of specialized hydranths
Gonangia (gonozooids) reproduction
Gastrozooids feeding
Dactyolozooids catching prey
hydranths
Colonial Hydrozoans

Colonial Hydrozoans
Portuguese Man-O-War (Physalia physalis)
Polyp air bag
Feeding & reproductive hydranths - tentacles

Colonial Hydrozoans
Fire Corals
NOT TRUE CORAL
Hydrozoan colony
TRUE CORAL
Anthozoan colony
Cnidocytes cause severe
pain
Dimorphic Life Cycle
and Reproductive
Modes
Asexual
Budding
Medusa buds
Polyp buds
Sexual
Gonadal tissue
Gametes
Fertilization,
embryogenesis
Planula larvae
Class Scyphozoa
Typically thought of as jellyfish
Most have typical dimorphic life cycle
Polyp stage is atypical
Majority of life cycle spent in medusa form




Scyphozoan Life Cycle
Aurelia aurita (Moon jelly)
CNIDARIA
Class Scyphozoa
Sea thimble jellyfish
(Linuche unguiculata),
Honduras
Tiny jellyfish (< 1
inch) that swarm in
the spring
Adults and larvae
(sea lice) may cause
a severe skin reaction
in humans
Photo Copyright Diane R. Nelson
CNIDARIA
Class Scyphozoa
Upside down jellyfish
(Cassiopea
xamachana) from
Bermuda, with
zooxanthellae
This specimen is
swimming up to the
surface, where its
reflection is visible
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display

Photo Copyright Diane R. Nelson
CNIDARIA
Class Scyphozoa
Jellyfish (Mastigias
sp., family
Rhizostomeae) from
Jellyfish Lake in
Palau, western Pacific
Have lost their ability
to sting and depend
on zooxanthellae for
nutrition
Copyright The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display

Photo Copyright Diane R. Nelson
CNIDARIA
Class Scyphozoa
Lions Mane Jelly
(Cyanea capillata)
Bell 6 ft
Tentacles 120 ft
Lions Mane Jelly (Cyanea capillata)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqfCm
58SB6Y
Class Cubozoa
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Cubozoa
Carybdeid,
Darwin, Australia

Phylum Cnidaria
Class Cubozoa
Carybdea sivickisi
South pacific

Phylum Cnidaria
Class Cubozoa
Chironex fleckeri

Size of human head
with tentacles (4) up to
9 ft long
18-24 ft of tentacles
can deliver enough
poison to kill in <5 min.

Class Anthozoa
Anemones & Corals
Lack medusa form
Form colonies (especially coral)






Class Anthozoa Typical Polyp Form
CNIDARIA
Class Anthozoa
giant anemone or
purple-tipped
anemone (Condylactis
gigantea) often
harbors cleaning
shrimp among its
tentacles
Common in Bermuda
and the Caribbean
Photo Copyright Diane R. Nelson
Anemone with Anemone Fish
Anthozoan Motility

Class Anthozoa Hard Coral
Hexacorallia
6-fold symmetry
Precipitate
Ca
3
(CO
3
)
2
from sea
water to produce
skeletal structures
that become coral
reefs
Contain
zooxanthella

Class Anthozoa soft corals
Octocorallia
8-fold symmetry
Form complex tube-
like skeletal
structures
Lack zooxanthella
Phylum Cnidaria
Class Anthozoa
Subclass Octocorallia
Soft coral
Class Anthozoa Soft Corals
Soft Corals Class Anthozoa
Reefs
Shallow tropical waters
Hermatypic corals (Class Anthozoa, subclass
hexacorallia, order scleractinia)
Contain symbiotic dinoflagellates
Precipitate CaCO
3
to form exoskeleton
Zooanthella
Green algae
Atoll
Phylum Ctenophora
Comb-jellies
Rows of cells with fused
cilia comb-plates
<100 species
Lack cnidocytes
Complete digestive
tract


Ctenophore Morphology
Ctenophore
Morphology
Ctenophore Morphology
Ctenophore Body
Forms
Biradial symmetry
Two tentacle clusters
Even # comb rows\

Some are bilateral


Reef Movie
Bioluminescent Movie
Ctenophore Movie
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/efc
/efc_se/se_jellies_rhythm.asp