coelenterate
1
9.9
A simple water animal with a bag-shaped body, one opening, and stinging tentacles like jellyfish or corals
- noun
- /siˈlɛn təˌreɪt/
- Archaic
:
celentéreo
- In the ocean, coelenterates play an important role in the marine ecosystem.
Examples
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Scientists study coelenterates to understand their unique stinging tentacles and body structures.
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They were transgenic animals, with genes spliced from some deep-water coelenterate.
Blog text (2) -
The aquarium features many species of coelenterates, including jellyfish and sea anemones.
Synonyms
1
9.9
An old group name for water animals like jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones that scientists no longer use
is the current definition limited to those animals not the older group
1
9.9
A water animal like a jellyfish with a soft bag-shaped body and tentacles that sting
is a broader group name used for those animals rather than the phylum term
Surface Forms
coelenterate singular
coelenterates plural
Etymology
Coelenterate comes from Greek roots coel- meaning 'hollow' and enteron meaning 'intestine', the same root as the English word 'intestine'. So, a coelenterate is an animal with a single hollow body space, a 'hollow gut', which explains why jellyfish and corals are in this group.