Nematocysts in four species of corals

Abstract

The types and distribution of nematocysts in four coral species were studied. Of the 20 major categories of nematocysts recognized in the phylum Cnidaria, five types were encountered in these four corals. They were holotrichous isorhizas, atrichous isorhizas, microbasic mastigophore, microbasic amastigophore and macrobasic mastigophore. The type of nematocysts and their abundance varied from coral to coral and even within a single species, the relative distribution of a given type of nematocyst varied in different parts of a polyp. It is suggested that the differences in the nematocysts could be used in the classification of corals