phylum Cnidarians

B1 32-35, B2 9-11
 Life cycle of cnidarians
1. the adult medusa has gonads (pohlavné orgány) in
gastrodermis, sperm and ova are released into
gastrovascular cavity and out through the mouth opening
2. fertilisation (an ovum and sperm cell fuse in water, this
way zygote is formed) = sexual reproduction
3. larva (planula) develops from the zygote – free-swimming,
ciliated (obrvená), bilaterally symmetrical
4. larva settles and becomes a polyp
5. strobilation (strobilácia) – asexual reproduction
• the polyp produces juvenile medusae (ephyra sg), the
polyp splits horizontally into a series of discs
6. the medusae mature (and reproduce sexually)
Picture: Life cycle of cnidarians
 Freshwater species
• in freshwater, only species of the class hydrozoans
(Hydrozoa) can be found
• they are barely visible to naked eye
brown hydra (Hydra oligactis, nezmar hnedý)
green hydra (Hydra viridis, nezmar zelený)
• it gets its colour from symbiotic green algae, which
supply it with oxygen
reproduction of hydras:
• asexual – budding (pučanie) – the new individual grows
from an existing one
• sexual reproduction
• as they do not have the medusa form, the polyp form
produces ova (sg ovum) and sperms (spermatozoids -
motile) – it is hermaphrodite
• cross-fertilisation occures (ova are fertilised by sperms
of a different individual – cudzooplodnenie), a new
polyp is formed
 freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbii, medúzka
sladkovodná)

• its polyp form is inconspicuous

• its medusa form is very active and edacious

• it lives in meanders of the Danube

• it is a cosmopolitan organism
(eurypotent)
 Marine species
species of all four classes can be found in seas and oceans

1. class Hydrozoans (polypovce)

• the species are sessile and live in colonies
• they resemble flourishing plants
2. class: True jellyfish (medúzovce)

• the medusa stage prevails

• the medusa has a bell, along its margin stinging cells
and rhopalia (protuberances, which contain eyes and
statocysts – organs for orientation in terms of gravity)
are situated
• (((they live in warm as well as in cold seas and oceans
• they feed on plankton, crustaceans and fish)))
• they catch the prey actively, their stinging can be
painful and life-threatening
common jellyfish (Aurelia aurita, medúza ušatá)
• the most common species in European seas
• (((the bell is transparent
• it is not a good swimmer, it is carried onto the shore
during high tide)))
 (((lion‘s mane jellyfish (Cyanea arctica, tanierovka
arktická)
• it has 2m in diameter,
• it is one of the largest jellyfish)))
3. class: Box jellyfish (štvorhranovce)
• their bell is cube-shaped

box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri, štvorhranka)

• its venom is more effective than snake venom, it causes
heart collapse or loss of consciousness (strata vedomia)
• first aid:
• the application of vinegar (its acetic acid disables
those stinging cells that have not yet discharged),
• tentacles should be removed with the use of a towel
or glove,
• artificial respiration and cardiac massage may be
required,
• antivenom is available
box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri, štvorhranka)
4. Sea anemones and corals (koralovce)
• they do not have the medusa stage

• Corals
• their exoskeleton contains calcium carbonate
• they reproduce through budding, they create multicoloured
collonies
• coral reefs and atolls are the products of calcic skeletons,
they are irreplaceable in marine ecosystem,
• e. g. The Great Barrier Reef (Veľká koralová bariéra),
• it is located off the north-east coast of Australia
• (((it is threatened due to climate change, pollution and
fishing, shipping accidents, oil spills and tropical
cyclones)))
• since 1985 it has lost more than half of its coral
red coral (Corallium rubrum, koral červený)

• (((it can be found in the Mediterranean Sea

• it is pink to dark red,)))
• it is used in the production of jewellery and decorative
items
• Sea anemones
• they do not form exoskeletons
• they often live in symbiosis
(mutualism), e.g.
with clownfish

(((giant Caribbean Sea anemone

(Condylactis gigantea, sasanka
veľká)
• it offers protection and
shelter to small richly
coloured clownfish
(Amfiprion))))