Coral   26-III
EUMETAZOA
Cnidaria
 
 
Close up of Cavernous Star Coral (Montastrea cavernosa)
[NOAA Photo]



Chapter Outline
  1. Description of Eumetazoa
  2. Classification of Eumetazoa
  3. Cnidaria
  4. Ctenophora

Tree



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The phylum Cnidaria is split into five classes Anthozoa, Scyphozoa, Cubozoa, Hydrozoa and Myxozoa.

Links:

ANTHOZOA 12, 7, 2

The class Anthozoa includes animals such as corals, sea anemones and sea pens. As of 2024, 238 species of Clade have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 1,291 throughout the world.

  • SUBCLASS HEXACORALLIA
    • ORDER ACTINARIA
      • Anemones (Anthopleura)
        • Sunburst Anemone (Anthopleura sola) - most iNat observations in the US for Actinaria and Anthozoa
        • Giant Green Anemone (Anthopleura xanthogrammica) - 6 (Omaha Zoo), Monterey Bay, Ecola SP, OR
        • Aggregating Anemone (Anthopleura elegantissima) - Ecola SP, OR
      • Carpet Anemone (Stichodactyla) - Florida Aquarium
      • Giant Caribbean Anenone (Condylactis gigantea) - Florida Keys
      • Plumose Anemone (Metridium senile) - 6 (Aquarium at Omaha Zoo)
    • ORDER ANTIPATHARIA
      • Hawaiian Black Coral (Antipathes griggi) - most iNat observations in the US for Antipatharia - 12 (Oahu)
    • ORDER CERIANTHARIA
      • Fringed Cerianthid (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus) - most iNat observations in the US for Ceriantharia - 7 (Monterey Bay)
      • Tube-Dwelling Anemone (Ceriantheopsis) - Florida Aquarium
    • ORDER CORALLIMORPHARIA
      • Jeweled Anemone/Strawberry False Coral (Corynactis californica) - most iNat observations in the US for Corallimorpharia - 7 (Monterey Bay), 6 (Omaha Zoo), 8 (Shedd Aquarium)
    • ORDER SCLERACTINIA
      • SUBORDER ASTROCOENIINA
        • Staghorn Coral (Acropora cervicornis) - Florida Aquarium, Florida Keys
        • Elkhorn Coral (Acropora palmata) - Florida Aquarium, Florida Keys
      • SUBORDER CARYOPHYLLIINA
        • Devonshire Cup Coral (Caryophyllia smithii)
      • SUBORDER DENDROPHYLLIINA
        • Orange Cup Coral (Balanophyllia elegans) - Monterey Bay
        • Cup Corals (Tubastraea spp.)
      • SUBORDER FAVIINA
        • Northern Star Coral (Astrangia poculata) - most iNat observations in the US for Scleractinia - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
        • Horn Coral (Hydnophora) - Devonian Gorge
        • Boulder Star Coral (Montastrea annularis)
        • Brain Coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis)
      • SUBORDER FUNGIINA
        • Anemone Coral (Goniopora lobata)
      • SUBORDER MEANDRIINA
        • Tipped Bubblegum Coral (Physogyra lichtensteini)
    • ORDER ZOANTHARIA
      • Sea Mat (Palythoa tuberculosa) - most iNat observations in the US for Zoantharia - 12 (Hawaii), 6 (Omaha Zoo)
      • Yellow Encrusting Anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae)
      • Mat Anemone (Zoanthus sp.) - Omaha Zoo, Shedd Aquarium
  • SUBCLASS OCTOCORALLIA
    • ORDER MALACALCYONACEA
      • California Golden Gorgonian (Muricea californica) - most iNat observations in the US for Malacalcyonacea - 7 (San Diego to Los Angeles)
      • Knobby Sea Rod (Eunicea) - Shedd Aquarium
      • Colt Coral (Cladiella) - Shedd Aquarium
      • Green Star Coral (Clavularia) - Shedd Aquarium
      • Purple Sea Fan (Gorgonia ventalina) - Florida Aquarium, Florida Keys
      • Colorful Sea Whip (Leptogorgia virgulata) - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
      • Sea Whip (Pseudoplexaura) - Florida Keys, National Zoo
      • Sea Plume (Pseudopterogorgia) - Florida Aquarium, Florida Keys
      • Leathery Soft Coral (Sarcophyton) - Shedd Aquarium, Florida Aquarium, Omaha Zoo
      • Northern Sea Fan (Swiftia pallida)
    • ORDER SCLERALCYONACEA
      • Sea Pansy (Renilla reniformis) - most iNat observations in the US for Scleralcyonacea - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
      • Gurney's Sea Pen (Ptilosarcus gurneyi) - second-most iNat observations in the US for Scleralcyonacea - 11 (Glacier Bay), 5 (Puget Sound, near Olympic NP)
      • Sea Fan (Diodogorgia) - Shedd Aquarium
      • Blue Coral (Heliopora coerulea)
  • SUBCLASS CERIANTHARIA
    • ORDER PENICILLARIA
      • Ghost Tube Anemone (Isarachnanthus bandanensis) - most iNat observations in the US for Penicillaria - 12 (Oahu)
    • ORDER SPIRULARIA
      • Fringed Cerianthid (Pachycerianthus fimbriatus) - most iNat observations in the US for Spirularia - 7 (Monterey Bay to San Diego)
Links:

SCYPHOZOA 7, 2

The class Scyphozoa includes the true jellyfishes. As of 2024, 29 species of Scyphozoa have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 103 throughout the world.

  • ORDER CORONATAE
    • Thimble Jelly (Linuche unguiculata) - the only iNat observations in the US for Coronatae - 10 (New Jersey Coast)
  • ORDER RHIZOSTOMEAE
    • Cannonball Jelly (Stomolophus meleagris) - most iNat observations in the US for Rhizostomeae and Scyphozoa - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
    • Upside-Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea xamachana) - 6 (Omaha Zoo)
    • Golden Medusa (Mastigias papua) -
    • Rhizostoma pulmo - FLKR
  • ORDER SEMAEOSTOMEAE
    • Moon Jellies (Aurelia)
      • Greater Moon Jelly (Aurelia labiata) - most iNat observations in the US for Semaeostomeae
      • Moon Jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) - 6 (Omaha Zoo, KC Zoo) - FLKR
    • Chrysaora - FLKR
      • Black Jelly (Chrysaora achlyos) - Monterey Bay Aquarium
      • Pacific Sea Nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens) - 6 (Aquarium at Omaha Zoo), 7 (Monterey Bay Aquarium)
      • Japanese Sea Nettle (Chrysaora pacifica) - 6 (Aquarium at Omaha Zoo)
      • South American Sea Nettle (Chrysaora plocamia) - 6 (Aquarium at Omaha Zoo)
    • Lion's Mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) - 6 (Omaha Zoo) - FLKR
    • Mauve Stinger (Pelagia noctiluca) - FLKR
    • Egg-Yolk Jelly (Phacellophora camtschatica) - FLKR
  • ORDER STAUROMEDUSAE
    • Stalked Jelly (Haliclystus sanjuanensis) - most iNat observations in the US for Stauromedusae
Links:

CUBOZOA 2

The class Cubozoa includes the box jellyfishes or sea wasps. As of 2024, 6 species of Cubozoa have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 24 throughout the world.

  • ORDER CARYBDEIDA
    • Atlantic Box Jelly (Tamoya haplonema) - most iNat observations in the US for Carybdeida - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
    • Mangrove Box Jelly (Tripedalia cystophora) - 2 (Everglades, Keys)
  • ORDER CHIRODROPIDA
    • Four-Handed Box Jelly (Chiropsalmus quadrumanus) - most iNat observations in the US for Chirodropida and Cubozoa - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
Links:

HYDROZOA 7, 2

The class Hydrozoa includes hydras and some jellyfishes. As of 2024, 138 species of Hydrozoa have been observed in iNaturalist in the US and 384 throughout the world.

  • SUBCLASS TRACHYLINAE
    • Common Freshwater Jelly (Craspedacusta sowerbii) - most iNat observations in the US for Trachylinae. Introduced.
    • Pink Helmet (Aglantha digitale) - FLKR - 5 (Puget Sound)
    • Aeginopsis laurentii - FLKR (with Hyperia galba male inside)
  • SUBCLASS HYDROIDOLINA
    • ORDER ANTHOATHECATA
      • Bougainvillia superciliaris - FLKR
      • Hydra (Hydra spp.)
      • Penicillate Jellyfish (Polyorchis penicillatus)
      • Turritopsis nutricula
      • By-The-Wind Sailor (Velella velella) - Tied for most iNat observations in the US for Hydrozoa, most for Anthoathecata - 7 (Monterey Bay)
    • ORDER LEPTOTHECATA
      • Victoria's Crystal Jelly (Aequorea victoria) - most iNat observations in the US for Leptothecata - 7 (Monterey Bay)
      • Aequorea - FLKR
    • ORDER SIPHONOPHORAE
      • Portuguese Man O' War (Physalia physalis) - Tied for most iNat observations in the US for Hydrozoa, most for Siphonophorae - 2 (Coast near Green Swamp, NC)
      • Giant Siphonophore (Praya sp.) - Monterey Bay
      • Siphonophore (Nanomia cara)
      • Hippopodius - FLKR
      • Abylopsis - FLKR
Links:

MYXOZOA 7

The Class Myxozoa includes just 1 species observed in iNaturalist in the US and throughout the world.

  • MYXOZOA
    • Whirling Disease Parasite (Myxobolus cerebralis) - Yosemite, parasites of fish, mainly trout
Links:

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