CNIDARIA - NAMED FOR CNIDOCYTES, definite body shape, tissues but no organs, larvae called planula (flat, multicellular, very small, swim w/ cilia), adults (body is sack, stomach single opening with tentacles, usually in oceans, carnivores, Epidermis (outer layer)(from ectoderm), Gastrodermis (Inner layer from endoderm)(lines GVC), Mesoglea (middle layer)(gelatinous), Body Forms - Polyp (cylindrical, mouth faces up, budding, large colonies) Meduae - (umbrella-shaped, free-floating or swimmers, mouth faces down, reproduce sexually, no colonies), rudimentary nerves and muscles, cnidocytes are a type of cell with a neatocyst, triggered when touched, used to paralyze prey, very powerful and poisonous
SCYPHOZOA (SEA JELLIES) - most in oceans, no large colonies, medusa larger and more complex stage of life, highly adapted to environment, male and female medusae, external fertilization, simple structure, reproduce quickly, fill ecological vacuums, 1/3 biomass in oceans, predators, cnidocytes in tentacles (NOMURA'S JELLYFISH - very big)
CUBOZOA (BOX JELLIES) - medusa is box shaped, strong swimmers, feed on fish, extremely toxic poison, Chironex fleckeri (most toxic in world)
HYDROZOANS - oceanic, polyp and medusae, typically colonial, each polyp specialized
HYDRA - no medusa, freshwater PORTUGUESE MAN O' WAR - not jellyfish, poisonous and very painful, polyp colony, gas-filled float
ANTHOZOA (ANEMONES AND CORALS) - plant-like structure, trunk w/ tentacles, shallow warm water, NO MEDUSAE. Sea Anemones - soft-bodied, thick muscular trunk, live as individuals, costal waters Stony Corals - small polyps, secrete skeleton of calcium carbonate from base, polyps grow on top of others, form reefs, demanding habitat, need clear salt water, many zooxanthellae, large colonies, budding, external fertilization, a reef is lime stone ridge, formed by stony corals and coralline algae, supports ecological community, rainforests of oceans, 1/3 of fish live in one