What kind of cnidarian is a jellyfish?

Jellyfish also have tentacles around their mouths that vary in length depending on the species of jellyfish. The jellyfish use their tentacles to both catch and sting their prey. The tentacles of the jellyfish are covered in a skin that contains special cells, some that sting, some that grip and some that stick. read more

Predators of cnidarians include: sea slugs, which can incorporate nematocysts into their own bodies for self-defense; starfish, notably the crown of thorns starfish, which can devastate corals; butterfly fish and parrot fish, which eat corals; and marine turtles, which eat jellyfish. read more

True jellyfish are members of the cnidarian class Scyphozoa. These are marine animals in which the medusa life stage is dominant although there is usually a polyp stage as well. There is another cnidarian class called the Hydrozoa that are often mistaken for true jellyfish. read more

Most jellyfish stings are not deadly, but stings of some box jellyfish, such as the sea wasp and the Irukandji jellyfish, can be deadly. Stings may cause anaphylaxis (a form of shock), which can be fatal. read more