ZLY 201

Dr O. J. Ademola
Basic forms of Cnidarians

Source: askitians.com)
 Examples

Source: Life in Freshwater Source: The Conversation

(https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Flifeinfreshwater.net%2Fhydra%2F&psig=AOv (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheconversation.com%2Fmeet-hydra-the-
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 Structure of Hydra

Source: The Conversation

Body Wall
• Diploblastic: outer ectoderm and inner endoderm layers
separated by a middle jelly like mesogloea

Ectodederm Endoderm
Musculo epithelial Musculo-nutritive
cells cells
Interstitial cells Glandular cells
Cnidocysts Interstitial cells
Sensory cells Sensory cells
Nerve cellls
 Anatomy of Hydra

Source: GeoChemBio )
 Body Wall

Source:www.shutterstock.com
Hydra anatomy diagrams. (a) Hydra regions, (b) epithelial bilayer of endoderm and ectoderm (c) nematocyst
discharges of Hydra (Source: Semantic scholar)
Cnidoblast/ Cnidocyte/Nematocyte/Nematoblast
• Prey capture
• Defence
• Anchorage
Components:
• A tough, ovoid, fluid-filled capsule,
the nematocyst, bearing minute barbs
at the base.
• A layer of specially contractile cyto-
plasm with a large nucleus.
• the cnidocil or trigger hair at the
anterior end
• Contact of the cnidocil with some
small animals causes sudden
contraction of the cytoplasm, the
nematocyst is everted and shot out
Source: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.shutterstock.com%2Fsearch%2Fhydra%2Bbiology&psig=AOvVaw23UZ6nC6ur2XR-
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Cnidocyte Types

Source: studyandscore.com
Locomotion
• Organs used: basal disc, tentacles, and epitheliomusclualr cells
Somersault
in Hydra

Looping in Hydra: (a) Bending of the head (b) Head end touches the
substratum (c) Basal end is pulled and fixed near to the head (d)
head end moves upward

Floating in Climbing in
Hydra Hydra

Source: notesonzoology.com
Nutrition
• carnivores
• feed on small annelids, crustaceans, insect larvae

Nematocyst discharges of Hydra (Source: Semantic scholar)

Nervous System

• lack CNS
• a network formed by the
nerve ganglia and the pro-
cesses of the neurons
constitute the nervous
system
• termed as nerve net system

Nerve net system

Reproduction
• Asexual
reproduction by
budding (most
common) and
fission

Budding in Hydra

Source: BrainKart (https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brainkart.com%2Farticle%2FAsexual-

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Sexual reproduction in Hydra

Source: notesonzoology.com
Stages of development: A. Zygote. B. 2-celled stage (blastomeres). C. Blastula. D. Early gastrula. E. Late
gastrula. F. Fully formed embryo. G. Young Hydra hatching out
Obelia
 Source: academia.edu
Source: inverts.wallawalla.edu

• typical marine
Hydrozoan
• branching hydroid
colonies
• initial polyp buds
forming colony Source:European-marine-life.org
• polyps give a tree-like appearance
• stem – hyrocaulus
• attachment xture – hydrorhiza
• epidermis secretes protective covering – perisarc
• perisarc forms cups (hyrotheca and gonotheca)
• Polyps: feeding (gastrozoids) and asexually reproducing (gonozoids)
Obelia: a portion of
colony

Source: biologydiscussion.com
Polyps:
feeding
(gastrozoids)
and asexually
reproducing
(gonozoids)

Source: museum.geology.cz
Medusa Form
• Mesogloea
form bulk of
the body
• Gullet,
stomach,
radial and
circular canals
lined by
endoderm
cells
• 16 ten. in
newly formed Source: egyankosh.ac.in/
Stages of the development of a medusa from a blastostyle

Source: biologydiscussion.com
Locomotion
Nervous system

• Statocysts (small fluid

filled sac lined with
sensory cells) for
balance, muscular co-
ordination and
equilibrium

Source: biocyclopedia.com
2 nerve rings:
• Inner ring: controls
contraction of the
sub-umbrellamuscle
tails
• Outer ring: receives
impulses from
statocysts
The base of an adradial tentacle of medusa

Source: biologydiscussion.com
Reproduction

Sourcestudtandscore.com