Monday, November 26, 2007

Nutrition


Kamptozoa are filter feeders using their crown of tentacles to capture suspended organic particles and small phytoplankton. Cilia located laterally on the tentacles generate a feeding current that enters the central space. Suspended particles passing between the tentacles are trapped by the lateral cilia, where they are then transferred to the frontal cilia located on the inside of the tentacles. The frontal cilia transport the particles to the mouth, were they are ingested. The gut is U-shaped and contains a mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestine, rectum, and anus. The stomach is large, with enzymatic secretion and digestion taking place here. The stomach and intestine have numerous microvilli and are therefore thought to be the site of absorption.

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