What Animals are Coelenterates?

Unlike other animal species, coelenterates do not have vertebrae. Coelenterates are fairly soft-bodied or made of some other soft material. These animals are not limited to one specific environment or habitat. They live in the ocean or on land in brackish water. Currently over 9,000 species of coelenterates are found in the world.

Jellyfish

This type of coelenterate lives in oceans all over the world. The jellyfish comes in many species, sizes, shapes and colors. The body lacks the vertebrae found in true fish; however, the jellyfish makes up for it with its amazing features. A jellyfish has tentacles that reach out and grab prey. A mouth is found on the body and is used to take in food such as small fish. Any waste is expelled back through the mouth.

Some jellyfish are poisonous and use stingers found on their tentacles to protect themselves from predators. If an unfortunate swimmer touches these stingers, it can burn intensely and require medical care.

Mollusks

Most people enjoy eating sea mollusks. These coelenterates include clams, oysters and mussels. They live in a hard shell that has two parts connected by a hinge. Mollusks feed on algae or other sea plants.

Octopus and squid are sea mollusks in the cephalopod family. They usually feed on larger sea animals such as fish. Cephalopods have six to eight tentacles used for grabbing prey and moving through the water.

Snails are mollusks that live on land. They have one shell, a foot and can secrete slime. This animal changes shells once it outgrows the one it is currently living in.

Crustaceans

Crabs, lobster and crayfish are examples of crustaceans. These animals may live in saltwater, fresh water and on land. Coelenterates of this type also possess multiple legs, claws and a soft outer body called an exoskeleton. The exoskeleton is molted or taken off when the animals reaches a certain size. Humans can consume the majority of crustaceans.