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- 

 c i e s a t- 

 taining a 

 height of 

 several 

 inches. It 

 does not 



Fig. 49. — Upright cut 

 through coral polyp X 4. 



ms, mouth; mr, gullet; is, 

 is, fleshy partitions (mesen- 

 teries) extending from outer 

 body wall to gullet (to in- 

 crease absorbing surface) ; 

 s, s, shorter partitions ; mi, 

 fb, stony support (of lime, 

 called coral) ; t, tentacles. 



Fig. 50. — Sea Anemone. 



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). 



Fig. 51. — Sea Anemones. 



