cnidarian
Tentacled sea creature
A cnidarian is any of the aquatic invertebrates—jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, hydras—that possess stinging cells called cnidocytes.
These creatures share a simple body plan with a central digestive cavity and tentacles for capturing prey.
The phylum Cnidaria includes some of the ocean's most beautiful and dangerous animals: The beach was closed after cnidarians washed ashore.
Fleshy membrane projection
- medusaFree-swimming cnidarian form
- tentacleFlexible grasping appendage
- radial symmetryArrangement around central axis
- sessileAttached at base
planktonic · invertebrate · manubrium · larva · budding · asexual reproduction · sexual reproduction · lifecycle
Free-swimming cnidarian form
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- umbrellaHandheld rain shelter
- gelatinousViscous and semisolid
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
bioluminescent · pulsate · drift · bloom · moon jelly · box jellyfish · lion's mane · Portuguese man-of-war
Injected animal poison
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- barbBackward-pointing spike
- harpoonBarbed spear for whales
injection · toxic · painful · allergic · anaphylaxis · antivenom · swelling · stinger
Underwater rock or coral formation
- polypFleshy membrane projection
- colonialOf occupied territories
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- bleachingChemical color removal
calcium carbonate · limestone · atoll · fringing · barrier · biodiversity · soft coral · branching
Relating to the sea
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- reefUnderwater rock or coral formation
- benthicOf the sea bottom
- pelagicOf the open sea
tropical · temperate · shallow · deep sea · intertidal · lagoon · seabed · aquarium
polyp
Fleshy membrane projection
- medusaFree-swimming cnidarian form
- tentacleFlexible grasping appendage
- radial symmetryArrangement around central axis
sessile · planktonic · invertebrate · manubrium · larva · budding · asexual reproduction · sexual reproduction · lifecycle · nerve net
medusa
Free-swimming cnidarian form
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- umbrellaHandheld rain shelter
- gelatinousViscous and semisolid
translucent · bioluminescent · pulsate · drift · bloom · moon jelly · box jellyfish · lion's mane · Portuguese man-of-war · sea nettle
venom
Injected animal poison
- envenomationInjection of animal poison
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- barbBackward-pointing spike
harpoon · injection · toxic · painful · allergic · anaphylaxis · antivenom · swelling · stinger · cytotoxin
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
- polypFleshy membrane projection
- colonialOf occupied territories
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
bleaching · calcium carbonate · limestone · atoll · fringing · barrier · biodiversity · soft coral · branching · massive
marine
Relating to the sea
pelagic · tropical · temperate · shallow · deep sea · intertidal · lagoon · seabed · aquarium · tide pool
zooplankton
Drifting aquatic microorganisms
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- preyAnimal being hunted
- filter feederAnimal straining waterborne nutrients
symbiosis · algae · photosynthesis · ecosystem · food web · plankton · copepod · mutualism · commensal · clownfish
anthozoa
Flower-like marine invertebrates
- hydrozoaAquatic invertebrates with stinging cells
- scyphozoaClass of true jellyfish
- phylumMajor classification rank
class · order · genus · species · phylogeny · classification · taxon · ctenophore · basal