POLYPS (CUPLIKE ANIMALS} 



33 



The Sea Anemone, like the coral 

 polyp, lives in the sea, but like 

 the fresh water hydra, it deposits 

 no limy support for its body. The 

 anemone is much larger than the 



hydra and 

 most coral 

 polyps, 

 many spe- 

 cie s at- 

 taining a 

 height of 

 several 

 inches. It 



FIG. 49. UPRIGHT CUT 

 through coral polyp X 4. 



ms, mouth; tnr, gullet; Is, 

 Is, fleshy partitions (mesen- 

 teries) extending from outer 

 body wall to gullet (to in- 

 crease absorbing surface) ; 

 s, s, shorter partitions ; nib, 

 fb, stony support (of lime, 

 called coral) ; t, tentacles. 



FIG. 50. SEA ANEMONE. 



does not 

 form colo- 

 nies. When its arms are drawn in, 



it looks like a large knob of shiny but opaque jelly. Polyps 

 used to be called zoophytes (plant- animals), because of 

 their flower-like appearance (Figs. 50, 51). 



FJG. 51. SEA ANEMONES. 



