Coelenterata
| Coelenterates | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Comb jellies (Beroe spp.) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| (unranked): | Coelenterata |
| Phyla | |
Coelenterata is term encompassing animal phyla, the Cnidaria (coral animals, true jellies, sea anemones, sea pens, and their allies). Ctenophora was first considered a sub-group but Hyman regarded Ctenophora as a separate phylum. The name comes from the Greek "koilos" ("hollow bellied"), referring to the hollow body cavity common to these two phyla. They have very simple tissue organization, with only two layers of cells (external and internal), and radial symmetry. Some examples are corals, which are colonial, and hydra, jelly fish and sea anemone which are solitary. Coelenterata lack a specialized circulatory system, relying instead on diffusion across the tissue layers.
All coelenterates are aquatic, mostly marine. The bodyform is radially symmetrical. The body has a single opening, the , surrounded by sensory tentacles equipped with either or colloblasts to capture mostly planktonic prey. These tentacles surround a spacious cavity called the gastrovascular cavity or coelenteron. Digestion is both intracellular and extracellular. Respiration and excretion are accomplished by simple diffusion. A network of nerves is spread throughout the body. Many forms exhibit polymorphism, wherein different types of individuals are present in a colony for different functions. These individuals are called Zooids. These animals generally reproduce asexually by budding, though sexual reproduction does occur in some groups.
The scientific validity of the term coelenterate is currently disputed, as the Cnidaria and Ctenophora have less in common than previously assumed. Coelentera may only be monophyletic if both Placozoa and Bilateria are included. In particular, the phylogenetic position of Ctenophora is controversial, leading some researchers to suggest that Coelenterata is not monophyletic, and therefore any group containing Cnidaria and Ctenophora but excluding other phyla would be paraphyletic. However, some genomic studies have found support for monophyletic coelenterates. Despite this uncertainty, the term coelenterate is still used in informal settings to refer to the Cnidaria and Ctenophora.
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