Invertebrates- Cnidarians Flashcards
phylum
cnidarians, soft bodied, carnivores, symmetry, tentacles, speculated tissue, cnidocytes (stinging cells)
cnidocytes
stinging cells
form and function in cnidarians
most are only a few thick cells. simple body plan systems, primarily for feeding and movement
body plan
radical symmetry, central mouth surrounded by numerous tentacles. 2 different stages, 1. polyp, 2. medusa.
feeding
paralyzed prey pulled into gastrovascular cavity. digestion begins extracellularly- takes place outside of cells. partially digested food is absorbed by gastroderm. digestion completed intracellularly. undigested food passed out through mouth.
polyp
cylindrical body plan, arm-like tentacles, mouth pointed upwards, usually sessile (stays in one spot)
medusa
bell-shaped body plan, motile (free floating), mouth on downwards.
digestion
takes place in gastrovascular cavity. a single opening cavity. gastroderm- inner lining of gastrovascular cavity. epidermis- over layer of cells. mesoglea- layer that lies between gastrovascular cavity and epidermis. may be non-cellular membrane or jelly-like material that contains cells.
respiration, circulation and excretion
digested nutrients transported throughout body by diffusion, respiration and waste elimination is by diffusion through body walls.
response
specialized sensory cells, cnidarians have nerve net, a loosely organized network or nerve cells, usually distributed uniformly throughout bod although some species have cent-ration of nerve cells around mouth or in rings around body. some cnidarians have statocysts- cells that detect gravity. have ocelli - eyespots that detect light.
movement
- sea anemones have hydrostatic Skelton
- layer of circular muscles and layer of longitudinal muscles that work with water in gastrovascular cavity facilitate movement –> sea anemone can elongate or shorten. medusas can move through water via jet propulsion by opening and closing bell.
reproduction
both sexual and asexual reproduction, polyps reproduce asexually by budding. most cnidarians, sexual reproduce takes place with external fertilization outside female’s body. eggs are fertilized –> free swimming larva develops –> becomes polyp and attached onto hard surface –> release medusa.
groups of cnidarians
jellyfish, hydras and relatives, sea anemone and corals
- jellyfishes
class Scyphozoa (cup animals)
medusa primary life stage
small larva form as polyp
sexual reproduction
- hydras and relatives
class Hydrozoa
polyps grow into large branching colonies
polyps specialized to perform different functions
some develop float
others develop tentacles
some digest food
some produce, reproduce (gametes)