Polyp animal Microscopic Anatomy The fundamental structure of a coral polyp is a cylindrical sac lined composed of two layers of epithelia: the surface body wall, which forms the outermost barrier between the organism and its surroundings, and the basal body wall, which anchors the polyp to its skeleton. The soft, jelly-like body of an individual cnidarian animal is called a polyp. They differ from trees and bushes because they don’t have Polyps attach to hard surfaces with their mouths up. By building calcium carbonate cups one on top of another and budding asexually, polyps collectively bulge, branch, ripple and fan out into diverse shapes, including shelves, boulders, pillars, branches and cauliflower-like nubs. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Over many generations, the colony thus creates a skeleton Coral polyps. [1] Jul 31, 2014 ยท These little animals are only a millimetre or so in diameter, but together with countless of their close relatives they make a mighty contribution to our world. But how much do you know about reefs and the tiny animals—polyps—that bui An example of the polyp form is Hydra spp. Each polyp uses stinging cells on its tentacles, which surround the mouth and stomach, to capture food, primarily zooplankton. They anchor themselves in the pits. njmzsuoofduplnusznuzdqlzbvyavdfbssfjgicpfyqdpabvthoidepcnnstmmpycfyrvmlbadyzc