Marine Stingers (Cnidaria)

Marine Stingers (Cnidaria)

There are some 9,500 species of these water creatures, which are sometimes called Coelenterates.
These animals are radially symmetrical and have tentacles with stinging cells. The more familiar types include jelly fish, sea anemones (pictured), corals, medusas, and hydras. Other Phyla containing species that may be familiar to the amateur include:

a) Sponges (Porifera, 10,000 species)
b) Segmented Worms (Annelida, 8,800 species including the common earthworm and leeches),
c) Lamp shells (Brachiopoda, 350 species)
d) Comb Jellies (Ctenophora, 90 species)
e) Nematodes (Nematoda, 80,000 species)
f) Horsehair worms (Nematomorpha, 240 species)