Is Cubozoa a class of Cnidaria?

Is Cubozoa a class of Cnidaria?

The phylum Cnidaria is comprised of remarkably diverse and ecologically significant taxa, such as the Anthozoa (reef-forming corals and sea anemones); swimming Scyphozoa (jellyfish); Cubozoa (box jellies); and Hydrozoa, a diverse group that includes all the freshwater cnidarians (such as the freshwater polyp Hydra) as …

What are examples of Cubozoa?

Box jellyfish (class Cubozoa) are cnidarian invertebrates distinguished by their box-like (i.e. cube-shaped) body. Some species of box jellyfish produce potent venom delivered by contact with their tentacles….Box jellyfish.

What are the characteristics of class Cubozoa?

The most obvious characteristic of cubozoans is the box-like shape of their bell. The manubrium and mouth are located inside the bell, and the velarium is along the edge of the bell. Pedalia are muscular extensions of the bell and the tentacles are attached to the pedalium.

What are the classes of the phylum Cnidaria?

Mostly marine animals, the cnidarians include the corals, hydras, jellyfish, Portuguese men-of-war, sea anemones, sea pens, sea whips, and sea fans. The phylum Cnidaria is made up of four classes: Hydrozoa (hydrozoans); Scyphozoa (scyphozoans); Anthozoa (anthozoans); and Cubozoa (cubozoans).

How many species are in the class Cubozoa?

This class is composed of approximately 50 species. Cubozoans have a typical life cycle that alternates between the polyp (asexual) and medusa (sexual) stages.

Is Cubozoa solitary or colonial?

Class Cubozoa and Class Hydrozoa. Cubozoans live as box-shaped medusae while Hydrozoans are true polymorphs and can be found as colonial or solitary organisms.

What makes a Cubozoa a Cubozoa?

Class Cubozoa includes jellies that have a box-shaped medusa: a bell that is square in cross-section; hence, they are colloquially known as “box jellyfish.” These species may achieve sizes of 15–25 cm. Cubozoans display overall morphological and anatomical characteristics that are similar to those of the scyphozoans.

Is Cnidaria a class?

The class Anthozoa includes all cnidarians that exhibit a polyp body plan only; in other words, there is no medusa stage within their life cycle. Examples include sea anemones (Figure 1), sea pens, and corals, with an estimated number of 6,100 described species.

What are the 4 classes of cnidarians and special characteristics that separate the classes?

Cnidarians are classified into four main groups: the almost wholly sessile Anthozoa (sea anemones, corals, sea pens); swimming Scyphozoa (jellyfish); Cubozoa (box jellies); and Hydrozoa (a diverse group that includes all the freshwater cnidarians as well as many marine forms, and has both sessile members, such as Hydra …

Is class Cubozoa polyp or medusa?

Cubozoans exist in a polypoid form that develops from a planula larva. These polyps show limited mobility along the substratum. As with scyphozoans, they may bud to form more polyps to colonize a habitat.

What is the difference between Scyphozoa and Cubozoa?

Cubozoans differ from Scyphozoans in their arrangement of tentacles; they are also known for their box-shaped medusa. Out of all cnidarians, cubozoans are the most venomous.

Do Cubozoa form colonies?

Cubozoans have separate sexes and fertilization occurs inside the female. Planula larvae may develop inside the female or be released, depending on species. Each planula develops into a polyp. These polyps may bud to form more polyps to create a colony; each polyp then transforms into a single medusa.