into whatever triggered the release. This can paralyze the prey, especially if many hundreds of nematocysts are fired.

In Hydra, different types of nematocysts are distinguished: the desmonemes for prey attachment; the isorhizas with spines in the interior of the nematocyst capsule and the spineless atrichous isorhizas; and the large stenoteles, with a prominent stylet apparatus at the tubule base employed for piercing cuticle structures.

Hydra has two main body layers, which makes it diploblastic.

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