anus
opening at the end of the digestive tract through which wastes leave the body.
bilateral symmetry
body parts arranged in a similar way on both sides of the body, with each half being nearly a mirror image of the other half.
carnivore
animal that eats only other animals or the remains of other animals; mammals having large, sharp canine teeth and strong jaw muscles for eating flesh.
free-living organism
organism that does not depend on another organism for food or a place to live.
herbivore
animal that eats only plants or parts of plants; mammals with large premolars and molars for eating only plants.
hermaphrodite
animal that produces both sperm and eggs in the same body.
invertebrate
animal without a backbone.
medusa
cnidarian body type that is bell-shaped and free-swimming.
omnivore
animal that eats plants and animals or animal flesh; mammals with incisors, canine teeth, and flat molars for eating plants and other animals.
polyp
cnidarian body type that is vase-shaped and is usually sessile.
radial symmetry
body parts arranged in a circle around a central point.
sessile
describes an organism that remains attached to one place during most of its lifetime.
stinging cells
capsules with coiled triggerlike structures that help cnidarians capture food.
tentacles
armlike structures that have stinging cells and surround the mouths of most cnidarians.
vertebrate
animal with a backbone.