Chapter: Biology: Animal Diversity and Classification

Phylum - Cnidaria

Many members of this phylum live in worldwide in freshwater, drain, canal, river, lake, stream etc. But maximum are marine species.

Phylum - Cnidaria

Habit and Habitat: Many members of this phylum live in worldwide in freshwater, drain, canal, river, lake, stream etc. But maximum are marine species. They are of different colour, shapes and sizes; they are the beauty of sea they are attached with floating wood, leaves or something else or free swimming.

Some species are free living and some are colonial. As: Hydra (fresh water animal) Jelly fish (Marine water animal) and Corals (Marine).

Identifying Characters:

a) They are two layered animals; body is formed of two embryonic celllayers ectoderm and endoderm. Between these two layers there is a non-cellular layer called mesoglea.

b) A body cavity named coelenteron or gastrovascular cavity takes part both in digestion and water circulation.

c) In the ectoderm there are specialized cnidoblast cells. Example: Hydra

Example : Hydra vulgaris, Aurelia aurita.

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Biology: Animal Diversity and Classification : Phylum - Cnidaria |