Zoology 250

Clade for Phylum CNIDARIA


Revised clade from Tree of Life for Kingdom Animalia


PHYLUM CNIDARIA (tree for classes from Ruppert/Barnes'94)

              ===3==== Hydrozoa (hydroids, siphonophores, hydrocorals, etc.)
        ==2===|
        |     ===4==== Cubozoa (sea wasps)
<<==1===|
        |     ===6==== Anthozoa (anemones, corals, gorgonians, etc.)
        ==5===|
              ===7==== Scyphozoa (jellyfish)

Traits supporting each clade (** plesiomorphic- a primitive state, not unique to clade):

1: a) cnidocytes w/ nematocysts, b) nemetocyst w/ operculum, c) diploblastic** & radial symmetry**
2: a) velum in medusa stage, b) stenotele nematocyst, c) simple bell margin without rhopalia in medusa stage**, d) simple gastrovascular cavity in polyp**, e) medusa by simple budding, f) simple manubrium in medusa stage
3: a) mesoglea lacks cells, b) gastrodermis lacks cnidocytes, c) gonads epidermal
4: a) cuboboidal swimming bell, b) complex 'eyes', c) gastrodermal gonads
5: a) mesoglea contains cells, b) gastrodermal cnidocytes, c) gastrodermal gonads, d) septate gastrovascular cavity in polyp, e) tubular pharynx with siphonglyph in polyp
6: a) nematocysts lack operculum, b) medusa stage absent
7: a) medusa stage dominant, b) large manubrium, c) notched bell margin, rhopalia, d) medusae by strobilation

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Copyright © 1998 by A. Richard Palmer. All rights reserved. (revised Jan. 21, 1998)