Coral Vocabulary

biradial symmetry / Portions of the body are specialized and only two planes of sectioning can divide the animal into perfectly similar halves
cnidocytes / stinging cells located along the tentacles of cnidarians; used for defense and to capture prey
nematocysts / stinging organelles
polyps / cylindrial forms that adhere to the substrate by the aboral end of the body
medusae / have a bell shaped or unbrella shaped body; the layer of mesoglea is very thick and constitutes most of their bulk
diploblastic / having 2 germ layers: ectoderm and endoderm.
gastrovascular cavity / An extensive pouch that serves as the site of extracellular digestion and a passageway to disperse materials throughout most of an animal's body.
extracellular digestion / Digestion that takes place outside of the cell.
epitheliomuscular cells / form most of the epidermis and serve both for contraction and for muscular contraction. Bases of these are myofibrils, which when contracted shorten the body or tentacles.
nerve net / nervous responses in cnidarians are controlled by a diffuse web of interconnected nerve cells
polymorpism / the presence in a species of more than one structural type of individual
budding / asexual reproduction in which a part of the parent organism pinches off and forms a new organism
pedal disc / a structure at the aboral end of a polyp used for attachment
planula / the free-swimming, ciliated larva of a cnidarian
fission / form of asexual reproduction in which an organism splits into two, and each half grows new parts to become a complete organism
ectodermal / epidermis
gastrodermis / endodermal, consists chiefly of large, ciliated columnar epithelial cells, include nutritive muscular, interstitial and gland cells
mesoglea / in cnidarians, the jellylike material located between the ectoderm and the endoderm
hydrostatic skeleton / Support structure that consists of water contained under pressure in a closed cavity.
cnidae / capsule-like organelles that are capable of everting (turning inside out) and that give phlyum Cnidaria its name
operculum / lid covering cnidae
cnidoblast / cnidocyte
cnidocil / A trigger-like object at the edge of a cnidocyte. It basically harpoons the prey..
neuromuscular system / sensory cell and nerve net combination
hypostome / a conical elevation where the mouth is, encircled by 6 to 8 hollow tentacles, can extend when animal is hungry
glutathione / What triggers the harpoon of a stinging cell?
hydranths / feeding polyps-feed whole colony
dactylozoids / polyps designed for colony defense
gonangia / bud on polyp that produces a medusa bud
manubrium / the portion projecting from the oral side of a jelly fish medusa bearing the mouth, oral cone, presternum or anterior part of sternum
velum / a membrane on the subumbrellar surface of jellyfishes of class hydrozoa
statocysts / simple organs that detect gravity, enabling cnidarians to stay upright
ocelli / eyespots; simple organs that detect light; important for survival of symbiotic cnidarians
hydrocorals / aka "pseudocorals" not corals at all; colonial hydrozoans (like portuguese man-o-war) that secrete CaCo3
rhopalium / A unit containing statocysts for balance, ocelli for light sensitivity, and simple eyes with lenses in certain jellyfish.
gastric pouches / 4 connect with the stomach in scyphozoans and a complex system of radial canals that branch to the ring canal, completing the GVC
scyphistoma / when the planula larva escapes from the parent and attaches to a substratum, it develops into tiny polyps called this
strobilation / when scyphozoen form medusae (polyps rip off)
ephyrae / It is a miniature medusa produced by asexual bedding of a scyphistoma, mature into sexual medusae
strobila / scyphistoma becomes this which begin to bud off young medusa
Class Scyphozoa /
Dominant medusa stage; they spend most if not all their lives as medusae.
greatly enlarged mesoglial layer
Class Hydrozoa / includes animals which spend part of their lives in both the medusa and polyp form; hydra is the exception and spends its entire life as a polyp
Class Cubozoa / includes box jellies and sea wasps, the medusa is box shaped and has complex eyes, often have highly toxic cnidocytes
Class Anthozoa / no alternation of generations the medusoid phase being entirely suppressed: sea anemones, corals
pedalium / flattened, tough blade from which tentacles extend
velarium / shelflike exension of the sumubrellar edge in cubazoans
Zoantharia / Subclass Anthozoa. Sea anemones and hard corals. Hexamerous, paired septa, simple tentacles. Contains orders actinaria(lacks exoskeleton, solitary) and scleractinia(colonial, CaCo exoskeleton)
Ceriantipatharia / Sub class Anthozoa. Thorny corals: Unpaired septa, hexamerous, deep sea, branched.
Octocorallia / subclass of Anthozoa comprising ~3,000 species of water-based organisms formed of colonial polyps with 8-fold symmetry. It includes the blue coral, soft corals, sea pens, and gorgonians; NOT STONY CORALS
hexamerous / Symmetry based on 6's as seen in subclass Zoantharia
oral disc / the region of a cnidarian's body with the mouth and manubrium at its center, and a whorl of tentacles at its margin
acontia / Thread-like extentions of septa in GV cavity. Possess nematocysts. Protrudes through mouth and body wall. Helps in food capture and defense. Can have a mutual symbiosis.
siphonoglyph / Ciliated groove in pharynx, directs water into GV cavity, allowing for diffusion to begin.
zoantharian corals / stony (true) corals, miniature sea anemones that live in calcareous cups they secreated
octocorallian corals / soft corals, sea pansies, and sea fans and other gorgonian corals, strict octomerous symmetry
colloblasts / secrete a sticky substance that binds to their prey
comb plates / usually possessed by ctenophora and are used for locomotion. (have eight pairs)
ctenes / comb plates
solenia / gastrodermal tubes through which polyps in colonies communicate
six distinguishing characteristics of cnidaria /
  • contain stinging nematocysts
  • radial symmetry
  • two embryonic germ layers
  • one digestive opening
  • nerve net
  • two distinct forms of medusa and polyp.

Sponge phylum / Porifera
Defining characteristics of porifera /
  • Barely multicellular
  • no true tissues
  • endoskeleton made up of calcium carbonate or siliceous spicules
  • asymmetrical

choanocyte / A flagellated feeding cell found in sponges. Also called a collar cell, it has a collar-like ring that traps food particles around the base of its flagellum. Can be transformed into sperm.
Sponge endoskeleton structure / Proteins: spongin and collagen, calcium carbonate, silicon
amoebocyte / amoeba-like cell that supplies nutrition and removes wastes from sponge body cells and can be transformed into eggs
Comb Jelly phylum / Ctenophora
Defining characteristics of ctenophora /
  • Radial symmetry
  • two cell layers
  • no cnidocytes
  • 8 rows orr combs of cillia

Arthropod

arthropod features /
  • external skeleton
  • a segmented body
  • jointed appendages
  • open circulatory system

abdomen / The hind section that contains reproductive organs and part of its digestive
crustacean / An arthropod that has two or three body sections, five or more pairs of legs, two pairs of antennae, and usually three pairs of appendages for chewing
exoskeleton / An outer skeleton
metamorphosis / A process in which an animal's body undergoes dramatic changes in form during its life cycle
molting / The process of shedding an outgrown exoskeleton
thorax / chest or mid-section

Phylum Mollusca

Mollusc features /
  • well-developed circulatory system
  • nervous system with brain
  • some with good eyes
  • muscular foot
  • mantle (houses gills)
  • visceral mass (contains most internal organs)

Phylum Echinodermata

Echinoderm features /
  • simple nervous system, no brain
  • water vascular system
  • no respiratory system
  • no circulatory system
  • excrete N2 by diffusion

Phylum Chordata

Chordate Features /
  • notochord
  • pharyngeal gill slits
  • dorsal hollow nerve chord
  • post anal tail

Notochord / A rod of tough, flexible material that runs the length of a creature's body, providing the majority of its support
Subphylum Urochordata / Creatures that have a notochord through the larva stage but then disappears in the adult stage
Tunicates
Subphylum Cephalochordata / Creatures that have a notochord their entire lives
Lancets
Subphylum Vertebrata / Creatures that have a notochord, but it turns into a backbone before the animal is hatched or born
Class Agnatha / Sub-phylum Vertebrata.
"jawless fish" - Lamprey and hagfish
Class Chondrichthyes / Sub-phylum Vertebrata. Cartilaginous Fish.
Sharks, Rays, Skates, chimera
Class Osteichthyes / Sub-phylum Vertebrata
Bony fish
Class Amphibia / Sub-phylum Vertebrata
tetrapod
Salamander, Frog, Toad, Newt
Class Reptilia / Sub-phylum Vertebrata
lizards, snakes, crocodiles
tetrapod
cold blooded (ectothermic; poikilothermic)
Class Aves / Sub-phylum Vertebrata
birds
tetrapod
warm blooded (homeothermic; endothermic)
Class Mammalia / Sub-phylum Vertebrata
  • warm blooded (endothermic; homeothermic)
  • suckle young
  • have hair or fur
  • give birth live (except for prototherians- egg laying mammals)

Animal Development

Gastrulation / process of cell migration by which a third layer of cells is formed within the cavity of a blastocyst
blastula / a hollow ball of undifferentiated embryonic cells
blastopore / the opening into the archenteron
archenteron / central cavity of the gastrula
protostome / Animal whose mouth is formed from its blastopore: spiral cleavage
deuterostome / an animal whose anus forms from the blastopore: radial cleavage
Germ layers / Cell layers in early embryonic development that have the potential to differentiate and become various cells, tissues, and organs in the body
Ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm
Ectoderm / the outer germ layer that develops into skin and nervous tissue
Endoderm / the inner germ layer that develops into the lining of the digestive and respiratory systems
Mesoderm / the middle germ layer that develops into muscle, bone, cartilage, blood and connective tissue

Ecology

biome / group of ecosystems that have the same climate and dominant communities
ecosystem / collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment
community / assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area
population / group of individuals of the same species that live in the same area
species / group of similar organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring
biosphere / the part of Earth where life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere
ecology / the scientific study of interactions among organism and between organisms and their environment
autotroph / organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds
chemosynthesis / process by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates
carnivore / organism that obtains energy by eating animals
consumer / organism that relies on other organisms for its energy and food supplies
detritivore / organism that feeds of plant and animal remains and other dead matter
decomposer / organism that breaks down and obtains energy from dead organic matter
ecological pyramid / diagram that shows the relative amounts of energy or matter within each trophic level in a food change or food web
biomass / total amount of living tissue within a given trophic level
food chain / series of steps in an ecosystem in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
food web / network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
herbivore / organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
heterotroph / organism that obtains energy from the foods it consumes
omnivore / organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
photosynthesis / process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates, such as sugars and starches
producer / organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce food from inorganic compounds
trophic level / step in a food chain or food web
biogeochemical cycle / process in which elements, chemical compounds, and other forms of matter are passed from one organism to another and from one part of the biosphere to another
denitrification / conversion of nitrates into nitrogen gas
evaporation / process by which water changes from a liquid into an atmospheric gas
algal bloom / an immediate increase in the amount of algae and other producers that results from a large input of a limiting nutrient
limiting nutrient / single nutrient that either is scarce or cycles very slowly, limiting the growth of organisms in an ecosystem
nutrient / chemical substance that an organism requires to live
nitrogen fixation / process of converting nitrogen gas into ammonia
primary productivity / rate at which organic matter is created by producers in an ecosystem
transpiration / loss of water from a plant through its leaves