Grade Radiate Cells
Phylum Coelenterata/Cnidaria – Diploblastic animals
The name Cnidaria has been given to this group of animals due to the presence of special cells called cnidocytes. These cells give rise to nematocysts-the stinging cells, characteristic of this group.
Cnidarians
have double layer organization and are therefore diploblastic having
tissue grade organization and have organs. During the development two
germinal layers are formed the outer ectoderm and inner endoderm from
which their bodies are constructed. The ectoderm forms outer covering
and some cells of this layer in most animals give rise to nematocysts
while the endoderm cells become speciaialized for digestion of food.
Between the two layers is a jelly-like mesoglea. In these animals there
is only one cavity which serves as digestive as well as body cavity
which is called gastrovascular cavity or enteron and opens to the outside by only one opening the mouth. So the animals of this group have sac like digestive cavity.
In
coelenterates the arrangement of body parts is in relation to
centralized axis (symmetrical). An object is symmetrical where there is a
correspondence in form and arrangement of parts so that a plane passing
through the center divides it into similar halves. The coelenterates
have radial symmetry and are aquatic, found both in marine and
freshwater habitats.
The coelenterates range in size from microscopic Hydra to macroscopic, branchioceranthus, a hydrozoans polyp that may reach two meters in length. Cnidarians are found in two basic forms the polyps and the medusa. Polyps are cylindrical animals, which in most cases are nutritive in function, hence named as gastrozoids.
The medusa are umbrella like in form. These are free swimming. The
medusa are involved in sexual reproduction as they have gonads.
The
mouth is surrounded by a series of tentacles. These bear stinging cells
or nematocysts, which are organs of defense and offense.
The
coelenterates are carnivores and feed upon small organisms which come
into contact with them. These organisms are immobilized by nematocysts
and taken into the digestive cavity as food where it is digested and
then distributed by diffusion.
The
nervous system is in the form of a network of neuron cells forming an
irregular net or plexus in the body-wall. There is no central nervous
system.
Many colonial coelenterates
such as corals produce a hard exoskeleton formed of calcium carbonate
(CaCO3). It is secreted by epidermal cells that take lime from sea
water. The skeleton of coral is responsible for formation of small coral
islands or large coral reefs.
Some of colonial members have upto five different types of zooids, performing different functions for the colony e.g. physalia (Portuguese man of war). |
Most species are sessile, for example Hydra, and Obelia, sea-anemone and corals, while other are free living and motile e.g. jelly fishes etc. many live as solitary individuals e.g. Hydra
jelly fishes and sea-anemones and quite a large number are colonial
e.g. physalia, vellela etc. a colony is an aggregation of individuals or
zooids that perform different functions for the colony.
In coelenterates reproduction takes place byasexual as well as sexual means e.g. Hydra
reproduces asexually by the formation of buds on its surface. The bud
after some time separate from the parent and develops into a new
individual. In Obelia for example there is asexual as well as sexual reproduction. It has a kind of zooid known as blastostyle
which gives rise to individual zooids called medusa by asexual method.
The medusa when released in water develop reproductive organs which
produce gametes that unite to form zygote from which Obelia colony is again formed.
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