Phylum: Cnidaria

Hatschek, 1888

Sea Anemones, Corals, Jellyfish

 

Etymology

  • From the Greek word “Cnidos” means stinging nettle

 

General                                                       

  • Containing over 9,000 species (MESC 2021)
  • Oldest clade of animals with ‘true tissue’
  • Includes corals, hydras, jellyfish, Portuguese men-of-war, sea anemones, sea pens, sea whips and sea fans

 

Distribution

  • Found all around the Earths oceans
  • All Aquatic, mostly marine approximately 20 freshwater species (Hydra) (MESC 2021)
  • Ranging from shallow coastal waters to deep ocean floors

 

Habitat

  • Some are solitary (sea anemones), some conical (corals)
  • Some are sessile (fixed to a substance) or free-swimming
  • Range from coral reefs, rocky shores, and the open water column

 

Defining Characteristics

  • Stinging soft bodied invertebrates
  • Presence of cnidoblasts with stinging nematocysts on the tentacles
  • Mostly radially symmetry, however sea anemones exhibit biradial symmetry, some exceptions eg. blue bottle
  • Diploblastic animals and show tissue level (grade) of organization
  • Polymorphism and have two body forms, i.e. polyp and medusa
  • Made up of 98% water
  • Exoskeleton chitinous (perisarc) or calcareous (corals)

 

 

CLASS: Anthozoa

Anemones & Corals

 

Phlyctenactis tuberculosa, Wandering Sea Anemone                                   

Phlyctenactis tuberculosa    Phlyctenactis tuberculosa           

Photo taken at Flinders Pier 29.11.2014                                              Photo taken at Flinders Pier 07.02.2015

 

Edwardsia vivipar  

    Edwardsia vivipara

Photo taken at Blairgowrie Pier 17.08.2013

 

Actinia tenebrosa, Waratah Anemone                                                                     Actinia veratra, Anemone

         Aulactinia veratra

Photo taken at Barwon Heads 01.10.2018                                                                           Photo taken at Queenscliff Labs 01.10.2018                 Photo taken at Barwon Heads 01.10.2018

 

Clavulariidae sp.

Photo taken at Mornington Pier 01.10.2018   

 

Anemonactis clavus, Anemone

Anemonactis clavus

Photo taken at Rye Pier 02.10.2021

 

 

CLASS: Hydrozoa

Hydras & Portuguese Man of Wars

 

Tubulariidae sp.

Photo taken Flinders Pier 27.09.2021

 

 

 

 

CLASS: Scyphozoa

Moon Jellfish & Purple jellyfish

 

Pseudorhiza haeckeli_Haeckel's Jelly                             Lion’s Mane jellyfish, Cyanea Annaskala

                        

Photo                                                                                                             Photo taken at Ranelagh Reef 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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