cnidaria
Tentacled marine creatures
Cnidaria is the phylum of aquatic animals that includes jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and hydroids.
These creatures share a defining feature: specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes that they use to capture prey and defend themselves.
The reef ecosystem depends heavily on cnidaria for its structure.
Most cnidarians have two body forms during their life cycle—a free-swimming medusa and a stationary polyp. (Capitalized Cnidaria is the standard scientific form.)
Injected animal poison
- toxinBiological-origin harm agent
- tentacleFlexible grasping appendage
- stingSharp wound from insect
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
neurotoxin · barb · discharge · trigger · harpoon · paralyze · defense · predation
Drifting marine stinger
- sea anemoneTentacled marine polyp
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
- box jellyfishCube-shaped venomous sea creature
sea pen · sea fan · moon jelly · lion's mane · brain coral · soft coral · stony coral · sea nettle
venom
Injected animal poison
envenomation · neurotoxin · barb · discharge · trigger · harpoon · paralyze · defense · predation · capture
jellyfish
Drifting marine stinger
- sea anemoneTentacled marine polyp
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- hydraFreshwater cnidarian polyp
box jellyfish · sea pen · sea fan · moon jelly · lion's mane · brain coral · soft coral · stony coral · sea nettle · man-of-war
cnidariavertebrates
Animals with internal skeletons
mammals · fish · birds · reptiles · amphibians