Chapter 26.5, Problem 1CC

Summary Introduction

To describe:

The dominant life stages for the given cnidarians: jellyfish, sea anemone, and Portuguese man-of-war.

Introduction:

In Cnidaria, two forms of life is observed, polyp and medusae. Cnidaria is represented by polyps such as sea anemones and corals, and by medusae such as jellyfish. A polypoid or a medusoid cnidarian is a radially or biradially symmetrical, uncephalized animal with a single body opening, the mouth. The mouth is surrounded by tentacles studded with microscopic stinging capsules known as nematocysts that are the agents of offense and defense. The possession of intrinsic nematocysts is the defining characteristic of the phylum.