(biology) the major taxonomic group of animals and plants; contains classes

multicellular animals having cells differentiated into tissues and organs and usually a digestive cavity and nervous system

radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms

one of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth

one of two forms that coelenterates take: it is the free-swimming sexual phase in the life cycle of a coelenterate; in this phase it has a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and tentacles

coelenterates in which the polyp stage is absent or at least inconspicuous: jellyfishes

multicellular animals having cells differentiated into tissues and organs and usually a digestive cavity and nervous system

radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms

one of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth

one of two forms that coelenterates take: it is the free-swimming sexual phase in the life cycle of a coelenterate; in this phase it has a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and tentacles

coelenterates in which the polyp stage is absent or at least inconspicuous: jellyfishes