Fun Trivia » Animals » Invertebrates » Cnidarians (Corals, Hydras, Etc.)

The Portuguese man o' war (Physalia physalis) prefers to live in a tropical or subtropic warm-water environment. Commonly found in open ocean, the man o' war does find its way to shore and has been seen in abundance off the coast of Florida and the Hawaiian Islands, off the Karachi coast in Pakistan, and in parts of Australia and New Zealand, particularly during the months of June, July, and August. Cases have been reported, however, of the animals being found as far north as Ireland or the Bay of Fundy in Canada. The Portuguese man o' war floats on the surface of the water and typically can be found in large groups numbering in the thousands. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific, Arctic

Using a microscope, William Herschel was able to distinguish thin animal cell membranes in coral. Herschel was a German astronomer and composer, who is renowned for having discovered Uranus.

Plant cells have both a cell membrane and cell wall, where as animal cells lack a cell wall. (credit to hackworr) Difficulty: Hard.

 

Eyes, Warm blood, Absence of chlorophyll

A jellyfish eats food through its mouth, which can be found on the bottom of its body, also known as the bell. They excrete through the same opening. Difficulty: Hard.

 

The jellyfish doesn't have a digestive system, It is very complex, with multiple openings, It is star shaped

These polyps have a mouth and tentacles which is used to for feeding and defense. The base of the polyp is an exoskeleton called the calyx which serves as protection when the polyps contracts into it. As these calices grown and extend, over many generations of polyps, the reef is formed. Difficulty: Hard.

 

coralites, zygotes, shales

In addition to the coral, there are also 1500 species of fish, 4000 different types of molluscs, 215 different types of birds and 6 types of turtles. Difficulty: Hard.

 

About 150, 243, Under 100

Clustered together in compact colonies, each individual polyp is sac-like and is a few millimetres in diameter and a few centimetres in length. They are classified as marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Tumours, Prolapse, Blisters

To move forward, the jellyfish makes a jet of water that moves it quickly forwards. The jellyfish also drifts on water currents to move; though this could be taken as the answer 'smooth, slow, hardly any movement', this does not describe how it pounces. Difficulty: Hard.

 

'a complex tentacle movement', 'fast, untidy', 'smooth, slow, hardly any movement'

Although the polyps can use tentacles to feed on plankton, 98% of the coral's food comes from the microscopic algae living on it. The coral will use pigments to regulate the amount of light on the algae to maintain it. It is the algae which causes the coloration of the coral reef. The algae benefit from living on the structure and from the waste produced by the polyps. Difficulty: Hard.

 

plankton, other coral, starfish

Each polyp has a nematocyst (stinging tentacle). The polyps themselves are roughly tubal-shaped, and the tentacles are located at the top of the hole. If they are touched by any other organism they will attack and catch prey, hence the need for the stinger. There are also sticky tentacles as well.
Polyps live in colonies, that is, hundreds of thousands together, and each individual one comprises an inner wall and an outer wall.
There are two types of coral - hard and soft.
No coral should ever be touched because it can break off, and both the piece that has broken off can die and the coral on the reef is also endangered. They can also cause very serious injury in the form of cuts and scratches which infect very quickly. Another threat to the coral is the residue of sun protection cream, even if you think your hands are clean there will be residue. Difficulty: Average.

 

they have a body similar to a sack that has a hole with stinging tentacles around it, they are invertebrates, their size varies from the size of a pinhead to more than a foot

Coral have stinging cells on their tentacles. The tentacles on each polyp are retracted during the day and spread out at night. Polyps are linked by gastrovascular canals and allow the individual polyps to share food. (credit to Kino76) Difficulty: Hard.

 

Barbs, Flippers, Sieves

In the true jellyfish, the medusa is the umbrella shaped body of the mature jellyfish. This comprises three layers: an outer thin layer, epidermis (we as humans have this layer on our skin); the middle layer called the mesoglea and an inner layer called the gastrodermis which acts like a stomach. The mesoglea is a non-living(!) jelly-like substance that is mostly water with a few fibrous proteins. The mesoglea maintains rigidity in the jellyfish (a primitive form of skeleton, if you will) but if you take a jellyfish out of water, (not recommended), it loses the water and hence its shape. The jellyfish moves along by filling its mesoglea with water and then contracting, forcing the water out. This propels the jellyfish forward like a jet engine albeit in a pulsating motion rather than with a constant thrust.

The jellyfish can move but not that strongly. It cannot fight currents and tends to drift with them. It tends to move vertically, up and down, rather than horizontally against or with the current.
With the remaining options: flagellation is a popular motion mechanism in bacteria and I hope you had a wry smile about the possibility that a jellyfish that could do backstroke without a back. Difficulty: Hard.

 

A primitive form of backstroke, They don't move, they are carried only by currents, Tentacle flagellation (side to side motion of tentacles)

They get on just fine without these, vital to most other living creatures, though their senses are very primitive. Difficulty: Hard.

 

----------, ----------, ----------

Some coral reproduction is asexual where new polyps will bud from a mature coral. However, most of the reproduction is sexual in a process which is timed to release eggs and sperm into the ocean all at the same time. Once fertilization occurs, microscopic larvae form and will find a surface where they can attach and develop into a polyp. Difficulty: Hard.

 

They only reproduce asexually, When old coral dies, it emits a seed that will form a new coral, Corals do not reproduce

The term "man o' war" originated in the 16th century with members of the British navy. They used the term, also known as "man-of-war" or "man", to describe large warships. This type of ship was usually powered with sails, but carried a cannon on board. Portuguese men o' war (that is the plural usage) were first constructed in the early 1400s and boasted two masts rather than one. The Portuguese man o' war received its name because it was thought to resemble the Portuguese warships when they were at full sail. Difficulty: Easy.

 

They live off the coast of Portugal., They are named after a Portuguese wine., Their name comes from a Portuguese delicacy.

The outer layer is the epidermis, then they have the inner layer and of course the middle layer which has in it a thick substance known as the mesoglea.
All play an extremely important role for the jellyfish. Difficulty: Hard.

 

One layer, An infinite number of layers, Seven layers

Not only does the Arctic lion's mane jellyfish have tentacles that average approximately 100 feet long, but a creature of this species was the largest jelly ever found, weighing in at a remarkable 450 pounds. Its actual body weight (alive) was probably more, but this specimen was found washed up on shore. Not to worry though, very few people swim in the Arctic Ocean or in extremely deep waters by choice! The diet of the Arctic lion's mane jelly consists of zooplankton and other jellyfish (so much for "familial" ties).
Difficulty: Hard.

 

Purple Stripe jellyfish, Portugese Man o' War, Moon jellyfish

This occurs when a fragment breaks off due to some disturbance such as a storm. It quickly reproduces and becomes a new independent colony of active polyps and settles back down on the reef. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Every 49 weeks, When someone or something touches it, When there is a change in water temperature of more than 11 degrees Celsius (52 Farenheit)

The Portuguese man o' war is a carnivore. It stings small fish and other marine animals, paralyzing them with the venom in its tentacles, and then uses the tentacles to bring its prey to its digestive site. Other food choices include shrimp and plankton. Interestingly, there is a small fish, called a man-of-war fish or shepherd fish, that seems to be unaffected from the stinging tentacles. It lives among them and even feeds on the smaller ones. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bugs, Seagrass, Sea Cucumbers

The 'true' jellyfish species include: moon jellies, Mediterranean jellyfish, sea nettles (known for stinging very painfully), lion's mane jellyfish (which can be HUGE), blue jellies, and many other lesser known species. Difficulty: Hard.

 

about 500, about 50, exactly 328

While a "smack" is the most popular name for a group of jellies, the other valid terms are: smuck, fluther, bloom, smuth, swarm or brood. Nobody seems to know the origin of these names in relation to jellyfish. Personally I'd like to add the word "splat", as it seems succinctly more sickly slimy and sticky than "smack" sounds (I think my grade school English teacher just rolled in her grave for that alliteration attempt lol). And sheesh, poor jellies, how would you like to go through life known as a gang member of the "Smucks"??? Difficulty: Hard.

 

swarm, fluther, bloom

The sperm and eggs travel to the surface and then move out through the water to form new polyps. Research has shown that scientists are now able to determine at what time of the year various spawnings will take place. Difficulty: Hard.

 

impregnation, fertilization, seeding

Each individual polyp starts secreting the exoskeleton from its base. Over time a large limestone skeleton develops and this is what builds coral reefs. The skeleton body is white and all the brilliant colours come from tiny algae called "zooanthellae" which live inside the polyp tissue and produce pigments. (credit to hackworr) Difficulty: Easy.

 

Sodium bicarbonate, Ammonium nitrate, Nitrogen trichloride

Jellyfish have specialised cells called cnidocytes on its tentacles which contain organelles called nematocysts. These intricate structures harbor tiny harpoons that contain venom. When an animal (food) touches the tentacle, the harpoon shoots out and immobilises it as the venom is impregnated into the flesh of the victim. This is quick - it takes 700 nanoseconds from touch to injection of venom.
It is this physiological reaction in two species, box jellyfish (Chironex fleckeri) and Irukandji jellyfish (Carukia barnesi) that are so dangerous to humans: their venom is very potent to humans and can even cause death. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Simple diffusion. Its mouth is always open gathering phytoplankton as it moves through the water, Phagocytosis: It surrounds the food which its cytoplasm then ingests, It relies on symbiotic relationships with some types of fish which bring it food and places it near the mouth

The lion's mane jelly has been reported to be the biggest recorded jellyfish. The Irukandji jellyfish is reported to be the smallest. Difficulty: Average.

 

Jellyfish have an average 30cm size, Jellyfish are always bigger than a bread box., Jellyfish can be so small they can only be seen through a 100X Magnifier.

The bladder, which is 3.5-11.8 inches across and is typically protrudes about 6 inches out of the water, is filled with atmospheric gases. These gases, including oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, diffuse into the sail. It has been estimated that as much as 14% of the gas is carbon monoxide. Believe it or not, there is also a siphon that allows the Portuguese man o' war a quick escape when threatened. It can quickly deflate and spend a bit of time completely underwater before it must resurface and its sail begins to fill again. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Internal organs, Digested food, Blood circulation

Jellyfish live less than one year on average, however the smallest species of the jellyfish may live only a few days. They have just enough time to mate, and then they die. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Up to twenty years, Less than one day, Approx. 13-15 years

Maintaining a symbiotic balance with algae requires optimal conditions for the polyps. When under stressful conditions, the coral will actually eject the algae and after the stress has been eliminated will reacquire it. Should the coral be unable to acquire the algae, the polyps will starve and die. The process of re-establishing the algae can take up to several months. Difficulty: Hard.

 

This is part of a natural cycle that occurs every 6 months, The algae becomes too heavy for the coral to support, The coral is getting ready to die

Coral is naturally suitable to be used for bone grafts. Its osteoconductivity makes it suitable for hard tissue regeneration and coral's matrix closely resembles natural bone structure. It does need to be converted from its calcium carbonate base into something more organic though and needs a bone product to make it more osteoconductive. Coral bone grafts have been used predominantly in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, but have also been tested in spinal fusion and fracture repair.

(credit to Kino76)
Difficulty: Average.

 

Dentures, Prosthetic limbs, Hip replacement

Jellyfish have complex reproductive behavior: they take on two morphological forms; and they reproduce both sexually and asexually.
The adult form of jellyfish are the medusa. They spawn by males releasing sperm and females releasing ova through their mouths into the ocean. Fertilisation takes place either in the ocean or sometimes the sperm swim into the female's mouth and fertiization occurs there.
A fertilised egg then turns into a planula (plural - planulae) which are ciliated free-swimming larvae. After a few day's development, planulae attach to a hard surface and transform into a polyp which has a mouth and tentacles for feeding on zooplankton. A polyp reproduces asexually by budding. An immature medusa is produced and is called an ephyra which in turn, develops into an adult medusa. Difficulty: Average.

 

Asexual reproduction only, Sexual reproduction only, Binary fission

Many people are known to eat jellyfish, and they have been said to be 'delicious'. In various cultures fried jellyfish is popular, and in many restaurants around the world they are treated as a delicacy. Jellyfish are not usually eaten raw. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Use their tentacles as lamps, Make anti-bacterial hand gel out of their mesolgea, Lick jellyfish as a path to hallucinating

Coral is crushed into smaller pieces and used for building walls, but has also been used to build some of the oldest buildings in England. St. George's Tower of Oxford Castle was built using coral farmed from the hills around Oxford. Fossilized coral limestone, like the Coral Rag Formation, contain fossils dating to the Jurassic period. (credit to hackworr) Difficulty: Hard.

 

Belize, Great Barrier Reef, Fiji

The word 'jellyfish' is a common term used to describe animals that are made up of 'jelly-like' material.

The dictionary definition for a jellyfish is a 'jelly-like sea creature'. This reflects highly on the fact that the jellyfish lives in the water. Jellyfish die on land. If one was to go to Australia, for example, during the summer seasons washed up jellyfish are very commonly found along the sand. Difficulty: Average.

 

It is just a name for the specific animal, An animal that looks like jelly, It is not a common term, but a very complex species 'chain'

True jellyfish have no excretory system per se. Therefore, the "mouth" also serves as the "anus". Food is ingested and digested through the "mouth" and waste material is released through the same opening. Ewww.
Difficulty: Hard.

 

two, three, zero

The Portuguese man o' war consists of four polyps that are also called zooids. The polyp on the top, that looks like an umbrella, is either purple, blue, and pink, and enables it to float. It is called the pneumatophore. Three polyps are under the pneumatophore. One, the dactylozooids, has the tentacles, the gastrozooids is responsible for digesting food, and the gonozooid is responsible for reproduction. When the Portuguese men o' war swim together, they do not mate as is the case of other animals. Some of them release sperm; some release eggs. Whether or not they join together is left to chance. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Pistols, Rostrum, Planula

The Cambrian period was the first period of the Paleozoic Era. This period lasted from approximately 540 to 485 million years ago. Coral fossils have been found from this era, but different species of coral are found more widespread from the Ordovician period which began a hundred years later. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Ordovician, Cretaceous, Triassic

Jellyfish feed on small fish, other jellyfish, plankton and fish roe. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Omnivorous, Herbivorous, Fructivorous

The main predator of jellyfish, besides sunfish, is the sea turtle (loggerheads and leatherbacks). This is why pollution in the form of plastic bags and pop bottle rings is so dangerous to them (as well as to many other animals). Turtles mistake the clear or opaque plastic for jellyfish and end up dying from either strangulation or intestinal blockage.
Difficulty: Hard.

 

Whales, Sharks, Dolphins

This is a border dispute and it is absolutely astonishing how violent the battle can get (on the coral scale). The polyps will extrude their guts to expose poisonous stinging tentacles which attack the intruding coral. Eventually, the encroacher will withdraw. Difficulty: Hard.

 

They will merge to form a new larger coral, As one approaches, both corals emit enzymes to cause the other to withdraw to a safe distance, It will trigger an immediate reproductive process