What are 4 survival adaptations of cnidarians?

Answer 1

In Biology, adaptations are realized through research. Nearly every biological function has been honed through 3.5 billion years of evolution to serve the organism in any particular way. In cnidarians, four main survival adaptations are cnidocytes, endosymbiotic algae, interstitial cells, and the gastroderm.

Cnidocytes are the main distinguishing feature of cnidarians. They are all cells that when activated, fire a projectile at the subject, the projectile remaining attached to the base. Two main types of cnidocytes exist- the nematocyst and the spirocyst.The nematocyst is a harpoon- like cell that when activated, fires a harpoon that injects venom into the subject. The spirocyst does not penetrate the subject, but uses sticky hairs to entangle it.

Endosymbiotic Algae are algae that propagate inside a host. In return for the host serving as a habitat, the host is able to harvest some algae for energy source.

Interstitial cells allow for cnidarians to regrow lost limbs such as tentacles or parts of a lost bell (in jellyfish)

The gastroderm is a stomach- like formation in cnidarians that allows the cnidarian to digest prey, and may include cnidocytes inside to subjugate prey.