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 

 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). 



H 





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. 



OF THE 



