Jelly Fish
Comparative Structure and Functions:
Cnidarians were the first organisms to develop an extracellular digestive tract. This digestive tract is one way, which means the jellyfish excrete through their mouths. Jellyfish also developed a primitive nervous system, a nerve net that can respond to chemicals and touch. Jellyfish also advanced from sponges by developing radial symmetry. All of these advancements have enabled Cnidarians to be successful for millions of years.
Taxonomy:
Cnidaria is a diverse phylum which contains jellyfish, hydras, sea anemones, and corals. Jellyfish are in the class Scyphozoa. Organisms in this class live their lives primarily as medusas, and no elaborate colonies ever form. Hydrozoa is a class containing Hydras and their relatives. These organisms can produce sexually or asexually, and often are each specialized to do specific tasks for the good of the colony. Sea anemones and corals are in the aptly named class Anthozoa, meaning “flower animal”. Coral and anemones thrive in water which has a high oxygen content and a diverse ecology.
Ecology:
Jellyfish are found in every ocean, from the surface to the deep sea. They have multiple species but they all fall into one species class, Cnidarian. Jellyfish are exclusively marine, but some do live in freshwater. Jellyfish have roamed the seas for 500 million years. They are the oldest living multi-organ animal. Jellyfish are carnivorous, feeding on plankton, crustaceans, fish eggs, small fish and other jellyfish, ingesting and voiding through the same hole in the middle of the bell.
Cnidarians were the first organisms to develop an extracellular digestive tract. This digestive tract is one way, which means the jellyfish excrete through their mouths. Jellyfish also developed a primitive nervous system, a nerve net that can respond to chemicals and touch. Jellyfish also advanced from sponges by developing radial symmetry. All of these advancements have enabled Cnidarians to be successful for millions of years.
Taxonomy:
Cnidaria is a diverse phylum which contains jellyfish, hydras, sea anemones, and corals. Jellyfish are in the class Scyphozoa. Organisms in this class live their lives primarily as medusas, and no elaborate colonies ever form. Hydrozoa is a class containing Hydras and their relatives. These organisms can produce sexually or asexually, and often are each specialized to do specific tasks for the good of the colony. Sea anemones and corals are in the aptly named class Anthozoa, meaning “flower animal”. Coral and anemones thrive in water which has a high oxygen content and a diverse ecology.
Ecology:
Jellyfish are found in every ocean, from the surface to the deep sea. They have multiple species but they all fall into one species class, Cnidarian. Jellyfish are exclusively marine, but some do live in freshwater. Jellyfish have roamed the seas for 500 million years. They are the oldest living multi-organ animal. Jellyfish are carnivorous, feeding on plankton, crustaceans, fish eggs, small fish and other jellyfish, ingesting and voiding through the same hole in the middle of the bell.