Cnidaria


Cnidaria include the familiar large scyphozan jellyfish but also many tiny species of hydrozoan jellyfish. Cnidaria have stinging cells with tiny venom-filled harpoons for defense and catching prey. Many cnidaria have a bottom-dwelling stage. Some hydrozoan species do not have a jellyfish stage but a free-floating “actinula” larva.

Juvenile (ephyra) of moon jellyfish Aurelia, Veerse Meer, NL
Jellyfish ephyra, Cerbère, Mediterranean
Obelia hydromedusa with caught copepod nauplius, Grevelingen, NL
Obelia hydromedusa, Grevelingen, NL
Obelia hydromedusa, Grevelingen, NL
Sarsia tubulosa, Wadden Sea, NL.
Sarsia tubulosa, Wadden Sea, NL.
Sarsia gemmifera hydromedusa with caught copepod, North Sea (Neeltje Jans), NL.
Rathkea octopunctata hydromedusa with caught copepod, Wadden sea, NL
Rathkea octopunctata hydromedusa with caught copepod, Wadden sea, NL
Rathkea octopunctata hydromedusa, Wadden sea, NL
Actinula larva of a hydroid, Grevelingen, NL
Actinula larva of a hydroid, Grevelingen, NL
Melicertum octocostatum hydromedusa, central North Sea
Melicertum octocostatum hydromedusa, central North Sea
Leuckartiara octona hydromedusa, southern North Sea
Leuckartiara octona hydromedusa, southern North Sea
Aglantha digitale hydromedusa, southern North Sea
Nanomia cara Siphonophores (without nectophores), central North Sea
Nanomia cara Siphonophores (with loose nectophore), central North Sea
Nanomia cara Siphonophores (with loose nectophores), central North Sea
Siphonophore gastrozoid, Cerbère, Mediterranean
Siphonophore gastrozoid, Cerbère, Mediterranean
Siphonophore, Cerbère, Mediterranean