Porifera Cnidaria Station Lab Questions
Station A Hydra
1. What Phylum and Class does Hydra belong to?
2. Describe 2 ways it differs from other members of this class.
3. Describe how the Hydra goes about obtaining its food. (Be specific about the
structures used.
Station B Leucosolenia (sponge)
1. Give the Kingdom, Phylum, and Class of this sponge.
2. Define the words ostia and oscula. Explain where these are on the sponge.
Station C Portuguese Man of War (p.393, pictures and captions)
1. Give the Phylum, Class, Genus and Species name of this animal. (Hint: use the
picture in your textbook to help with Genus and Species.)
2. Describe, in your own words, how the Man of War lives as a colony. Include
whether or not it could live as an individual.
Station D Sea Fan
1. What phylum and Class does this animal belong to?
2. What body shape(s) do these adult animals have? What does this tell you about
their ability to move?
Station E Observe the bath sponges on the boat. Read the caption.
1. What sponge class do these sponges belong to?
2. Other than bathing, what are three things these sponges are use for?
3. What is their skeleton made of? (Use the text to look this up.)
4. Describe specifically how these sponges are “cultured” for use by humans. Be
specific. (Use your textbook.)
Station F Use the textbook to answer the following questions about Freshwater
Sponges. (Hint: Read the info. about each of the sponge classes in your
text.
1. What Class and Family do freshwater sponges belong to?
2. What color are freshwater sponges?
3. Describe how these sponges survive the winter.
4. What is the ideal habitat for these sponges?
Station G Observe the poster of the Sea Anemones.
1. Give the phylum and Class of these animals.
2. Explain what the pedal disc is. What it does it have to do with reproduction in this
animal?
Station H Brain Coral Specimen
1. What Phylum and Class does this coral belong to?
2. Touch the coral. Are you touching a living animal? Explain specifically what you
are touching.
Station I Observe the fish and Sea Anemone.
1. What is the name of the type of symbiotic relationship that the fish and the sea
anemone have?
2. Why is the fish “immune” to the stings? (Hint: Use your textbook. Red under sea
anemone.
3. What structure causes the sting, and what are its triggers? (In other words, what
sets the stingers off?)
Station J Observe the Barrel Sponge of the Class Demospongiae.
1. What type of canal system does this sponge have? Give a specific name. (Hint:
See text.)
2. These sponges reproduce by releasing sperm or eggs into the water and are either
male or female. What is the term used for an animal which uses this pattern of
reproduction? (See notes.)
Station K Observe the “cup” jelly fish.
1. What Phylum and Class do they belong to?
2. What body shape is sown here?
3. These animals are able to sense light and balance themselves in the water. Name
the two special sense organs that allow for these functions. (Be sure to state which
is which.)
Station L Observe the coral from a coral reef.
1. Coral reefs are located in limited places around the world. Name three conditions
that are required for reefs to grow. (Use your textbook.)
2. Name three specific thing listed in the article that have threatened coral reefs.
3. What are zooxanthellae? Name two functions they provide for coral reefs. (Use
your textbook.)