Nematocysts are specialized cells found in some animals, but especially jellyfish, corals, sea anemones, and hydras, that serve as potent weapons to hunt prey and fend off predators.
Key points
- Each nematocyst consists of a capsule containing a coiled, thread-like tubule and a bulbous structure with toxins.
- When stressed, the nematocyst rapidly ejects the tubule, often with an acceleration surpassing that of a bullet.
- Nematocysts play a crucial role in the feeding and defence strategies of cnidarians in particular.
- Cnidarians are animals that contain cells called cnidocytes. When potential prey comes into contact with a cnidocyte, specialised sensory structures on the cell’s surface trigger the release of the nematocyst.
- The tubule then unfurls, piercing the prey’s outer layer or injecting toxins into its body.
