Volvent nematocyst Artwork of a nematocyst, or cnidocyst, before (left) and after (right) discharge. Nematocysts are usually venomous threads that are

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Volvent nematocyst Artwork of a nematocyst, or cnidocyst, before (left) and after (right) discharge. Nematocysts are usually venomous threads that are found in Cnidaria, which includes jellyfish, sea anemones and corals. A volvent nematocyst doesn't contain any venom. Instead it wraps around its prey (green), entrapping it. The thread (red) is fired from a capsule (black) within a nematocyte (khaki), or cnidocyte, a specialised organelle. Firing is initiated when a hair-like trigger, the cnidocil (at top right of structure) is activated by passing prey.

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Size: 5000px × 3518px
Photo credit: © FRANCIS LEROY, BIOCOSMOS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: artwork, biological, biology, cnidaria, cnidarian, cnidocil, cnidocyst, cnidocyte, coelenterate, cut, cut-, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, defence, defense, discharge, fauna, illustration, lassoing, nature, nematocyst, nematocyte, organelle, outs, predator, predatory, prey, thread, volvent, zoological, zoology