Phylum Cnidaria/Coelenterata: General

Characteristic and Classification

General characteristics of Phylum Coelenterata
1. Kingdom: Animalia
2. Habitat: aquatic, mostly marine. + 10.000 sp. Sebagian besar hidup di laut dan beberapa
spesies hidup di air tawar
3. Habit: solitary or colonial. Each individual is known as zooid.
4. Symmetry: radially symmetrical
5. Grade of organization: tissue grade of organization.
6. Germ layer: diploblastic, outer ectoderm and inner endoderm. Mesogloea separates these two
layer
7. The body has a single opening called hypostome urrounded by sensor y tentacles.
8. Tentakel disekitar mulut atau ujung oral
9.
10. Coelom: gastrovascular cavity or coelenteron.
11. Nematocyst: organ for capturing and paralyzing pray, present in tentacles
12. Nutrition: holozoic
13. Digestion is both intracellular and extracellular.
14. Respiration and excretion are accomplished by simple diffusion.
15. Circulatoryand ekskretory system: absent
16. Nervous system: poorly develop
17. Sistim muskuler : epitheliomuscular
18. Many forms exhibit polymorphism ie. Polyp and medusa
19. Polyps are sessile, asexual stage
20. Medusa are free swimming, sexual stage
21. Metagenesis: asexual polypoid generation alternate with sexual medusoid generation
22. Reproduction:
 Asexual: by budding
 Sexual: by gamatic fusion
20. Fertilization: internal or external
21. Development: indirect with larval stage
22. (Koilos: hollow, enteron: cavity)

Classification of Phylum Cnidaria/Coelenterata

The phylum coelenterate is divided into three classes on the basis of development of zooids:
  Class1: Hydrozoa
 Class2: Scyphozoan or Scyphomedusae
 Class3: Anthozoa or Actinozoa

Class1: Hydrozoa
(Hydra; water; zoon: animal)

 Habitat: mostly marine, few are fresh water

 Habit: some are solitary and some are colonial
 Asexual Polyps is dominant form
 Medusa possess true velum
 Mesogloea is simple and acellular
 Examples: Hydra, Obelia, Physalia physalis (portuguese man of war), Tubularia

Class 2: Scyphozoa or Scyphomedusae

 Habitat: exclusively marine
 Habit: solitary, freely swimming
 Medusa is dominant and it is Large bell or umbrella shaped
 Polyps is short lived or absent
 Mesogloea is usually cellular
 Examples: Aurelia aurita (Jelly fishe), Rhizostoma

Class 3: Anthozoa or Actinozoa

(Anthos: flower; zoios: animal “flower like animals”)

 Habitat: exclusively marine

 Habit: Solitary or colonial
 Medusa stage is absent
 Mesogloea contains fibrous connective tissue and amoeboid cells.
 Examples: Metridium (sea anemone), Telesto, Tubipora, Xenia