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Dr.

Enamul Haque
Asstt. Professor
Krishnagar Govt. College
Krishnagar, Nadia
West Bengal
Phylum Cnidaria
Cnidarians are diploblastic Metazoa at a tissue grade of
construction.
They possess primary radial symmetry, tentacles,
stinging or adhesive structures called cnidae, an
entodermally derived, incomplete gastrovascular
cavity as their only body cavity, and a middle layer
(called mesenchyme, or mesoglea) derived primarily
from ectoderm.
They lack cephalization, a centralized nervous system,
and discrete respiratory, circulatory, and excretory
organs .
This basic bauplan is retained in both the polypoid and
medusoid forms.
Biological Contributions
1. Both phyla have developed two well-defined germ layers, ectoderm and
endoderm; a third, or mesodermal, layer, which is derived embryologically
from ectoderm, is present in some. The body plan is saclike, and the body
wall is composed of two distinct layers, epidermis and gastrodermis,
derived from ectoderm and endoderm, respectively. The gelatinous matrix,
mesoglea, between these layers may be structureless, may contain a few
cells and fibers, or may be composed largely of mesodermal connective
tissue and muscle fibers.
2. An internal body cavity, the gastrovascular cavity, is lined by
gastrodermis and has a single opening, the mouth, which also serves as the
anus.
3. Extracellular digestion occurs in the gastrovascular cavity, an
intracellular digestion takes place in gastrodermal cells. Extracellular
digestion allows ingestion of larger food particles.
4. Most radiates have tentacles, or extensible projections around the oral
end, that aid in capturing food.
5. Radiates are the simplest animals to possess true nerve cells
(protoneurons), but nerves are arranged as a nerve net, with no central
nervous system
6. Radiates are the simplest animals to possess sense organs,which
include well-developed statocysts (organs of equilibrium) and
ocelli (photosensitive organs).
7. Locomotion in free-moving forms is achieved by either muscular
contractions (cnidarians) or ciliary comb plates
(ctenophores).However, both groups are still better adapted to
floating or being carried by currents than to strong swimming.
8. Polymorphism in cnidarians has widened their ecological
possibilities. In many species the presence of both a polyp (sessile
and attached) stage and a medusa (free-swimming) stage permits
occupation of a benthic (bottom) and a pelagic (open-water)
habitat by the same species. Polymorphism also widens the
possibilities of structural complexity.
9. Some unique features are found in these phyla, such as
nematocysts (stinging organelles) in cnidarians and colloblasts
(adhesive organelles) and ciliary comb plates in ctenophores
General Characters
Some unique characteristics
Nematocysts
Alternation of generations
(polyp and medusa body forms)
Planula larva
Mesoglea

1. Diploblastic Metazoa with ectoderm and entoderm separated by a
(primarily) ectodermally derived acellular mesoglea or partly cellular
mesenchyme
2. Possess primary radial symmetry, often modified as biradial, quadriradial, or
other form; theprimary body axis is oralaboral
3. Possess unique stinging or adhesive structures called cnidae; each cnida
resides in and is produced by one cell, a cnidocyte. The most common
cnidae are called nematocysts
4. Musculature formed largely of myoepithelial cells (= epitheliomuscular
cells), derived from ectoderm and entoderm (adult epidermis and
gastrodermis)
5. Exhibit alternation of asexual polypoid and sexual medusoid generations;
but there are many variations on this basic theme
6. The entodermally derived gastrovascular cavity (coelenteron) is the only
body cavity. The coelenteron is saclike, partitioned, or branched, but has
only a single opening, which serves as both mouth and anus
7. Without a head, centralized nervous system, or discrete gas exchange,
excretory, or circulatory structures
8. Nervous system is a simple nerve net(s), composed of naked and largely
nonpolar neurons
9. Typically have planula larvae (ciliated, motile, gastrula larvae)
Class:- Hydrozoa

Characters :-
(i) Individuals are either exclusively polypoid or
medusoid or constituted by both forms in the life
cycle.
(ii) Mesoglea acellular.
(iii)Cnidocytes are confined to the epidermal layer.
(iv)Gonads are usually ectodermal in origin.

e.g. Hydra , Obelia , Gonionemus, Physalia


Hydra , Obelia , Gonionemus, Physalia




Class:- Scyphozoa



Characters :-
(i) Medusoid form is dominant in the life cycle, polypoid forms is very
insufficant.
(ii) Mesoglea is cellular.
(iii)Gonads are endodermal.
(iv)The endodermal gastric tentacles are present.
Examples :- Aurelia; Pilema; Pericolpa;

Fig :- Aurelia
Pilema


Class:- Anthozoa

Characters :-
(i) Exist only in the polypoid form.
(ii) Gonads are endodermal.
(iii) Stomodium strongly developed
(iv) Extending between the stomodaeum & the body
wall there are mesenteries.

Divided into two subclasses-
SUBCLASS -ALCYONARIA (OCTOCORALLIA )
SUBCLASS ZOANTHARIA (HEXACORALLIA)

SUBCLASS -ALCYONARIA (OCTOCORALLIA )

1. Polyp with eight pinnate tentacles and eight septa.
2. Almost entirely colonial, and polyp usually connected by
conenenchyme.
e.g. Gorgonia (Sea fan), Coralium (precious red coral),
Stylatula(Sea pen) , Tubipora , Pennatulla
Sea fan

SUBCLASS ZOANTHARIA (HEXACORALLIA)

Characters
1. Polyps with more than eight tentacles and septa,
typically in the cycle of 12.
2. Tentacles usually pinnate.
3. Soltary or colonial
e.g . Metridium

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