While wading in the ocean, you look down into the water and notice an umbrella-shaped, translucent animal. It swims by pulsing its body, and long tentacles trail behind it. One of them brushes your leg. Ouch! You feel a burning sensation where it touched you. To what phylum does this creature probably belong?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The umbrella shape and long tentacles are characteristic of cnidarians, which includes jellyfish, sea anemones, and coral. The burning sensation is likely from the cnidocytes, specialized cells that contain stingers called nematocysts.

While Wading in the Ocean, You Look Down into the Water