Anthozoa

• Derived from Greek, anthos (flower) and zoa (animal)

• Do not have a medusa stage in their development, just have the polyp form

• Polyp size bigger than the other two Cnidaria classes

Anthozoa

• Live in shallow sea in colony

• An anthozoan colony consists of polyps connected by living tissue, the coenenchyme

Anthozoa

An anthozoan polyp consists of a tubular body terminating in a mouth surrounded by a ring of tentacles. The tentacles of an anthozoan polyp, unlike those of some other classes, are hollow.

Anthozoa

• Asexual reproduction by budding, binary fission, and fragmentation

• Sexual reproduction by fertilitation, then its zigot will turn out to the planula

Subclass: Octocorallia

• Order Pennatulacea, the sea pens and sea pansies; 16 families

• Order Helioporacea, the blue corals; two families

• Order Alcyonacea, the soft corals, sea fans, and sea whips; 29 families

Subclass: Hexacorallia• Order Actiniaria, the sea

anemones; 42 families• Order Scleractinia (=

Madreporaria), the true (stony or hard) corals; 25 families

• Order Corallimorpharia, the mushroom (false) corals (also known as mushroom anemones or disc anemones); 4 families

• Order Zoanthidea (= Zoanthinaria), the zoanthids; four families

• Order Antipatharia, the black (thorny) corals and wire corals; five families

• Order Ceriantharia, the tube anemones; three families

Anthozoa

Example of Anthozoans:• Sea anemons (Metridium

marginatum, Utricina crasicaris)

• Coral sea (Astrangia denae, Tubiphora musica)

• Black corals(Antipathes sp.)

Anthozoa

• The skeletons of coral sea consist of lime

• The coral symbiosis with algae. The algae give foods and form the skeleton of coral. While the coral provide algae the food waste for algae’s food and protect the algae form herbivores

• The skeleton of coral colonies that form the coral reefs or atolls (coral isle)

Anthozoa: Sea Anemones

Anthozoa: Sea Anemones

Anthozoa: Black Corals

Anthozoa: Sea Fans

The Role of Cnidaria in Life

• The main compiler of coral reef ecosystems

• The home for various kinds of animals and algae

• As a tourist atrractions• Prevent abrasion or

erosion of beaches

• As food ingredients. Ex: Jellyfish

• Anemone or sea rose as aquarium decorations