Cnidaria Anatomy

The body wall of a cnidarian consists of three layers an outer layer known as the epidermis a middle layer called the mesoglea and an inner layer referred to as the gastrodermis. Cnidarians are diverse and come in many shapes and sizes but there are some basic features of their anatomy that most share in common.

Jellyfish And Other Cnidarians

Most cnidarians are marine although a few such as the well known hydra are freshwater species.

Cnidaria anatomy. In vertebrates it is made up of many layers of cells and overlies the dermis. Mostly marine animals the cnidarians include the corals hydras jellyfish portuguese men of war sea anemones sea pens sea whips and sea fans. Here is a diagram of the 2 different types of cnidaria the medusa and the polyp functions of these structures epidermis the protective outer layer of the skin.

Digestion respiration and excretion extracellular digestion occurs in the coelenteron which has in all except hydrozoans and some tiny members of the other classes radial projections of the wall into the coelenteron that increase the surface area. Cnidaria cnidaria is one of the more primitive animal phyla. It includes aquatic organisms such as jellyfish sea anemones corals and hydras.

Cnidarian also called coelenterate any member of the phylum cnidaria coelenterata a group made up of more than 9000 living species. Cnidarians are a diverse group of invertebrates that come in many shapes and sizes but there are some basic features of their anatomy that most share in common. In invertebrate animals the epidermis is made up of a single layer of cells.

Untitled 1