What are cnidocytes in biology?

What are cnidocytes in biology?

A cnidocyte (also known as a cnidoblast or nematocyte) is an explosive cell containing one giant secretory organelle called a cnidocyst (also known as a cnida (plural cnidae) or nematocyst) that can deliver a sting to other organisms.

What are cnidocytes and their function?

Cnidocytes (‘stinging cells’) are specialized cells that define the phylum Cnidaria (sea anemones, jellyfish, corals and hydras). They contain an “explosive” organelle called cnidocyst that acts as a 600 million-years-old microscopic injection system and is important for prey capture and anti-predator defense.

What is the function of cnidocytes in cnidarians?

Cnidarians contain specialized cells known as cnidocytes (“stinging cells”) containing organelles called nematocysts (stingers). These cells are present around the mouth and tentacles, and serve to immobilize prey with toxins contained within the cells.

What is a cnidocyte and a Nematocyst?

A cnidocyte is an explosive cell having within it a giant secretory organelle (organ) called cnida which is a characteristic of the phylum Cnidaria. A Nematocyst is a specialized sub-cellular organelle (part of the cell) present in cnidocyte. Thus, a nematocyst is essentially a part of a cnidocyte.

Do sponges have Cnidocytes?

Sponges have multiple cell types that are geared toward executing various metabolic functions. Cnidarians have outer and inner tissue layers sandwiching a noncellular mesoglea. The cnidocyte is a specialized cell for delivering toxins to prey and predators.

What is the difference between Cnidocytes and nematocysts?

Where are cnidocytes found?

mouth
Whereas the defining cell type for the sponges is the choanocyte, the defining cell type for the cnidarians is the cnidocyte, or stinging cell. These cells are located around the mouth and on the tentacles, and serve to capture prey or repel predators.

What does the Gastrodermis do?

Gastrodermis helps in extracellular digestion of food in the gastrovascular cavity.

How do you treat a jelly sting?

After you have poured vinegar on the site, apply shaving cream or a mixture of baking soda and sea water. When this is dry, scrape the mixture off with a credit card. To help reduce the pain, apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. You can also use an ice pack or hot water to help with the pain and swelling.

What animals live in cnidarians?

Cnidarian, also called coelenterate, any member of the phylum Cnidaria (Coelenterata), a group made up of more than 9,000 living species. Mostly marine animals, the cnidarians include the corals, hydras, jellyfish, Portuguese men-of-war, sea anemones, sea pens, sea whips, and sea fans .

What are some examples of cnidarians?

Examples of cnidarians. White jellyfish.

Anemones. Actinia equina.

Polyps. Solitary polyp of the Flabellum coral.

Corals. Acropora cervicitis.

General characteristics. Cnidarians have a series of specific characteristics that differentiate them from other living things: They have cells that are organized in two layers forming functional units.

What phylum are cnidarians in?

The phylum Cnidaria is made up of four classes: Hydrozoa (hydrozoans); Scyphozoa (scyphozoans); Anthozoa (anthozoans); and Cubozoa (cubozoans). All cnidarians share several attributes, supporting the theory that they had a single origin.

How are cnidarians characterized?

Cnidarians share several basic characteristics. All Cnidaria are aquatic, mostly marine, organisms. They all have tentacles with stinging cells called nematocysts that they use to capture food. Cnidarians only have two body layers, the ectoderm and endoderm, separated by a jelly-like layer called the mesoglea.