Overview
Phylum Cnidaria (Coelenterates) - Corals, anemones and jellyfish
Te Papa’s holds one of the largest collections of cnidarians in the country, with more than 1500 specimen lots, thirty-three of which are name-bearing types. Holdings of solitary corals and hydroids are particularly important.
In this Phylum there are the corals, sea anemones, jellyfish, sea pens, sea pansies and sea wasps.
The basic body shape of a cnidarian consists of a sac with a single opening that functions as both mouth and anus with tentacles surrounding the mouth containing nematocysts, which are specialized stinging cells. These are used to catch prey and defend themselves from predators. The ability to sting is what gives cnidarians their name