cnidarian
noun
cni·dar·i·an
nī-ˈder-ē-ən
: any of a phylum (Cnidaria) of radially symmetrical, aquatic, invertebrate animals that have a hollow digestive cavity opening to the outside by a single opening surrounded by one or more nematocyst-studded whorls of tentacles, that occur as single or colonial sessile, typically columnar polyps or usually free-swimming, bell-shaped medusae, and that include the corals, sea anemones, jellyfishes, hydras, and Portuguese man-of-wars
Welcome to the world of cnidarians—a family of sea anemones, jellyfish and other marine invertebrates that kill their enemies and prey by firing poisonous, microscopic projectiles called nematocysts.—R. Weiss
called also coelenterate
cnidarian
adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share