Phylum Cnidaria MCQs January 8, 2026September 28, 2024 by u930973931_answers 30 min Score: 0 Attempted: 0/30 Subscribe 1. What is the defining characteristic of the phylum Cnidaria? (A) Presence of cnidocytes (B) Presence of a notochord (C) Bilateral symmetry (D) Exoskeleton 2. Which of the following is NOT a class within the phylum Cnidaria? (A) Hydrozoa (B) Scyphozoa (C) Cephalopoda (D) Anthozoa 3. What type of body symmetry do cnidarians exhibit? (A) Bilateral symmetry (B) Radial symmetry (C) Asymmetry (D) None of the above 4. Which structure in cnidarians is used for capturing prey? (A) Tentacles (B) Medusa (C) Nematocysts (D) Polyp 5. In which form do jellyfish primarily exist? (A) Polyp (B) Medusa (C) Planula (D) Sporophyte 6. Which class of Cnidaria includes sea anemones and corals? (A) Anthozoa (B) Scyphozoa (C) Hydrozoa (D) Cubozoa 7. The life cycle of a jellyfish typically alternates between which two forms? (A) Planula and medusa (B) Polyp and medusa (C) Adult and larval (D) Nematocyst and medusa 8. Which of the following is a common habitat for Cnidarians? (A) Freshwater (B) Terrestrial (C) Marine environments (D) All of the above 9. What type of digestion occurs in cnidarians? (A) Extracellular digestion (B) Both extracellular and intracellular digestion (C) Intracellular digestion (D) Fermentation 10. Which of the following organisms is classified as a hydrozoan? (A) Sea anemone (B) Box jellyfish (C) Portuguese man o' war (D) Coral 11. What is the role of the mesoglea in cnidarians? (A) Support and buoyancy (B) Muscle contraction (C) Digestion (D) Gas exchange 12. Which type of Cnidarian is known for its box-shaped medusa? (A) Hydrozoa (B) Cubozoa (C) Anthozoa (D) Scyphozoa 13. Corals form symbiotic relationships with which type of algae? (A) Diatoms (B) Blue-green algae (C) Green algae (D) Dinoflagellates 14. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of the class Scyphozoa? (A) Large, umbrella-shaped medusae (B) Dominance of the polyp stage (C) Small size (D) Freshwater habitat 15. What kind of reproductive strategy is commonly observed in Cnidarians? (A) Asexual reproduction (B) Sexual reproduction (C) Budding only (D) Both asexual and sexual reproduction 16. What structure is responsible for the locomotion of medusa forms? (A) Tentacles (B) Bell-shaped body (C) Mesoglea (D) Oral arms 17. In Cnidarians, which structure serves as the mouth and anus? (A) Umbrella (B) Osculum (C) Medusa (D) Gastrovascular cavity 18. Which class of Cnidarians is known for its colonial lifestyle? (A) Scyphozoa (B) Hydrozoa (C) Anthozoa (D) Cubozoa 19. What is the main function of the tentacles in Cnidarians? (A) Defense (B) Prey capture (C) Respiration (D) Reproduction 20. Which of the following statements about coral reefs is true? (A) They are formed only by hard corals. (B) They do not require sunlight to thrive. (C) They are found exclusively in freshwater. (D) They provide habitats for many marine species. 21. What is a common feature of the class Anthozoa? (A) They have a free-swimming larval stage. (B) They lack a medusa stage. (C) They primarily exist as medusae. (D) They are exclusively marine. 22. Which Cnidarian is known for its powerful sting and is often found in warm waters? (A) Sea anemone (B) Hydra (C) Coral (D) Box jellyfish 23. Which type of reproduction involves the formation of a polyp from a planula larva? (A) Asexual reproduction (B) Budding (C) Sexual reproduction (D) Fragmentation 24. What is the primary purpose of the nematocysts found in Cnidarians? (A) Respiration (B) Digestion (C) Defense and capturing prey (D) Locomotion 25. What form does a hydra predominantly exist in? (A) Medusa (B) Polyp (C) Planula (D) Sporophyte 26. Which class of Cnidaria is primarily composed of small, freshwater species? (A) Scyphozoa (B) Hydrozoa (C) Anthozoa (D) Cubozoa 27. Which of the following structures is used for locomotion in some jellyfish? (A) Tentacles (B) Mesenteries (C) Bell (D) Oral arms 28. Which type of organism is typically found in the class Hydrozoa? (A) Sea pens (B) Both A and B (C) Hydra (D) Sea fans 29. What is the habitat of most Cnidarians? (A) Terrestrial environments (B) Freshwater bodies (C) Marine environments (D) All of the above 30. What is the role of the gastrovascular cavity in cnidarians? (A) Digestion and circulation (B) Only circulation (C) Only digestion (D) Only excretion