AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Cnidarians are soft-bodied animals that include corals, jellyfish, and sea anemones . These soft-bodied animals have saclike digestive cavities and tentacles containing rows or stinging cells used for defense and capture of food.

Detailed explanation-2: -The phylum Cnidaria (pronounced “nih DARE ee uh”) includes soft-bodied stinging animals such as corals, sea anemones, and jellyfish (Fig. 3.23 A). The phylum’s name is derived from the Greek root word cnid-meaning nettle, a stinging plant. Cnidarians are found in many aquatic environments.

Detailed explanation-3: -Cnidarians have two body forms-polyp and medusa-which often occur within the life cycle of a single cnidarian. The body of a medusa, commonly called a jellyfish, usually has the shape of a bell or an umbrella, with tentacles hanging downward at the margin.