2. GENERAL INFORMATION
• Coelenterata is scientifically classified from the
Animalia kingdom and Eumetazoa sub-kingdom.
The term Coelenterata is no longer recognized
as scientifically valid, as the Cnidaria and
Ctenophora.
• This phylum includes about 9000 species , which
are mainly marine ; few are fresh water . The
name of this phylum came from the stinging
cells or cnidoblasts present on the ectoderm of
tentacles and the body of these carnivorous
animals. This phylum includes aquatic (marine
and fresh water), solitary or colonial forms.
3. Characteristics
•
•
•
Dipoblastic body with two layers of cells, outer
layer called ectoderm or epidermis and the
inner layer known as the endoderm or
gastrodermis.
The body is made up of two layers of the cells
, one makes up cells on the outside of the body
, and the other makes the species live in
colonies like corals , while others have a
solitary life-span like hydra . Jellyfish and sea
anemone are common examples
There skeletons are generally composed of
4. Special features
• They have a tissue level of organization and lack
organs and organ systems.
• Most of these animals have radial symmetry.
• Many Coelenterata form a hard skeleton made of
lime. These are corals like hydra.
• Coelenterata exhibit two body forms . The polyp and
medusa , polyp lead solitary or colonial life but are
always fixed , while medusa are free swimming like
jellyfish.
• It consists of the three class namely--(1) Hydrozoa
(2) Scyphozoa
5. Three class of Coelenterata
• Hydrozoa - includes the freshwater Hydra, the
marine Obelia, the Portuguese man-of-war
(Physalia), and Gonionemus.
• Scyphozoa - the common jellyfish as Aurelia.
• Anthozoa - the sea anemones, sea pens, and
corals.
8. Anemone
s
There are more
examples for
Coelenterata like
Obelia ,
Millepora(coral),
Physalia , Porpita.
They have
tentacles and are
aquatic animals
as you can see in
all the example
photos .
