Phylum Cnidaria: Classification and

Features
The phylum Cnidaria is a diverse group with cosmopolitan distribution. lt includes the
familiar hydras, the transparent jelly fishes, the beautiful and bright coloured sea anemones. a
variety of corals and about 11.000 delightful aquatic species.

The phylum Coelentarata was established by Leuckart in 1847. which also included the
sponges and ctenophores. In 1888, Hatschek splitted Leuckart's Coelenterata into 3 distinct
phylum: Spongiaria (Porifera), Cnidaria and Coelenterata.
The cnidarians are almost all marine and either sessile
or in colonies. They are characterised
are or free-swimming and occur singly
by the possession of radial symmetry (a primitive
feature), two layers of cells. gut cavity lined by endoderm, vibratile tentacles arranged in one
or more whorls around the mouth and provided with
nematocysts (the stinging organ). They
are the pioneer in the tissue grade of organisation.

Etymology:
Cnidaria-Greek: knide, nettle

Diagnostic Features of Phylum Cnidaria:

i. All the members are aquatic and with the exemption of a few, are marine.

ii. Body diploblastic i.e. composed of two tissue

layers, an outer epidermis (ectoderm) and an
inner gastro-dermis (endoderm) with several to
many cell types and a less cellular
mesoglea
at the centre.

iii. Two differentbody forms may exist-a 'medusa' (representing sexual phase)
pelagic existence and a 'polyp' (asexual phase) adapted for benthie existence. adapted for

iv. They exhibit radial symmetry.

v. Head and body segmentation absent.

vi. Short and slender tentacles encircle the mouth in one or more whorls.
vii. In the body there is an internal space for digestion, the 'gastro-vascular cavity', with the
mouth as the only opening.

vii. They thrive on both intracellular and extracellular

type of digestion.
ix, The body wall composed of a special type of cell called of C'nidocytes', containing
stinging organelles called 'nematocysts'.
x. They are acoelomates due to the absence of coelom.

1| P age
X1.
Respiratory, circulatory and excretory systems are absent: gas exchange is pertormCu oy
diffusion.

Xil. Nervous system is of primitive type consisting of diffused network of un-polarizcd nerve
cells.

XI11. Reproduction is both asexual by budding and sexual by ova and sperm. Development
often involves an almost bilaterally symmetrical. ciliated 'planula' larva.

Xiv. Life history commonly illustrates the phenomena of metagenesis.

Scheme of Classification of Phylum Cnidaria:

The classification of Cnidarians by Parker and Haswell or as revised by Marshall and

Williams, 1972 (7th edn.), is very much similar to that of Ruppert and Barnes (1994), except
that the later authors have introduced an additional class-Cuboz0a. for the medusoid
enidarians with bells.

Phylum Class
C
N Phylum Class Subclass
Hydrozoa C Hydrozoa
D N
A Scyphozoa Scyphozoa
R D
Anthozoa
Cubozoaa Octocorallia/
A
Alcyonaria
Box 1.2: Classification of P'hylum Cnidaria as in "Text A Anthozoa(
book of Zoology Invertebrates" by Parkar &|
-

Hexacorallia/
Haswell (eds. Marshall & Wiliams, 1972).
Zoantharia
The classificatory scheme followed in this text is based on the scheme outlined by Ruppert
and Barnes, 1994 (6th Edn.)

Systematic Resume:

Class Hydrozoa (Greek: hydro, water serpent):

i. Individuals are either exclusively polyploid or medusoid or constituted by both torns in the
life cycle.

ii. Mesoglea acellular.

ii. Cnidocytes are confined the

to epidermal layer.
iv. Coelenteron is undivided and without
stomodacum.
ionads sre usually ectodemnal in origin ar if endodernul, gametes da not escape thnaugh
the coelenteron and mouth.
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 Examples:
Hydra (Fig. 1.321D), Obelia, Millepora, Physalia Valclla (ig
(Fig. 1.32C). N
Porpita Fig. 1.32B).
sail

1/
crest of float float

tentacle

TFtyTFTO A hypstome
gastrozooid
tentaculozooids oral end sub hypostomal
region

middle piece

budding zone

dactylozooid aboral end

bud
B basal disK
D
Fig. 1.32: A. Velella, B. Porpita, C. Physalia, D. Hydra.

Class Scyphozoa (Greek: skyphos, cup):

i. Medusoid form is dominant in the life cycle;
polypoid form is very insignificant.

ii. Mesoglea is cellular. Margnal

apoeu

iii. Some cnidocytes are endodermal.

Gasme amet

Endoder
iv. The endodermal gastric tentacles are present.

v. Velum is absent.
sugei
vi. Gonads are endodermal.

Example:
Aurelia (Fig. 1.38), Pilema, Lucernaria, Pericolpa.

Class Cubozoa (Greek: Cubo, cube)

i. Medusoid cnidarians with bells.

ii. Body is distinctly flattened to form four sides.

ii. Bell margin simple.

Velun pnen
Sno lal p 24% Ih
boy.
31Pagteoghdh Fig 1.33. Tripedalia
iv. Presence of
velurí along the margin of the medusa.
. here are iour 1entacles or tentacle clusters at the four corners of the margln.
17. Body wall possess a
type of nematocyst called stenotale
Examples:
Cary bdea. Chiropsalmus. Chironex. Tripedalia (Fig. 1.33).

Class Anthozoa (Greek: Anthos, flower):

i. Exist only in the polypoid form.

ii. Mesoglea cellular.

ii. Some cnidocytes are endodermal.

iv. Stomodaeum strongly developed.

Polyps expanded digitate

.Extending between the stomodaeum and the body- branche
pAyp
wall there are mesenteries. or lobes

i. Gonads are endodermal.

vii. Members are exclusively marine.

lateral stalk
Subclass Octocorallia/Alcyonaria: branch
D hntracted
rachis
i. Polypwith eight tentacles and eight septa , branchocs
mesenteries). Pinnate t tuc.es
Jnthr ia
ii. Mesenteries are complete.

ii. Tentacles are pinnately branched.

iv. Only one ventral siphonoglyph is present.

npletely
meshes
stalk
rvtracted
V. Almost
entirely colonial, usually connected by dat di cinechyne
coenenchyme.
Fhg 14 A Pmrti sis, B. Iuhizru. ( Corgonat. D Alv
Examples:
Gorgonia (sca fan) (Fig. 1.34C), Pennatula (Sea-pen) (Fig. 1.34A).
Tinger) (Fig. 1.34D),. Helipora, Telesto, Tubipora Aleyonium (Dead-men s
(red coral) (Fig. 1.34E). (organ-pipe coral) (Fig. 1.34B). Corallium

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Subclass Hexacorallia / Zoantharia:

i. Polyps with more than eight tentacles and septa, typically in cycles of 12.

ii. Tentacles are hollow and un-branched.

ii. Usually two siphonoglyphs are present.

iv. Solitary or colonial.

(Adamsia. Edivardsia, Metridium) (Fig. 1.35A). Fungia

Examples: Sea-anemones
Meandrina (brain
mushroom coral) (Fig. 1.35B), Astrea (star coral) (Fig. 1.35D), Antipathes,
coral) (Fig. 1.35C).

oral disc
mouth
crown of tentacles
confluent
corallites
or thecae

collar
column or
Scapus

limbus

pedal disc

A C
contiguous
septa thecac

polyps

D
B
Fig. 1.35 A. Metridium, B. Fungia, C. Meandrina, D Asireu