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),