Feeding Patterns: Multicellular Organisms

Hydra: Stinging Tentacles

The Underwater Hunter

Hydra is a small multicellular aquatic animal. It has long, flexible tentacles surrounding its mouth to capture small water animals.
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Key Points

  1. Tentacles contain 'Stinging Cells' (Cnidocytes) to paralyze prey.
  2. Once paralyzed, the tentacles push the prey into the mouth.
  3. Digestion happens in the large central body cavity.
  4. Both ingestion and egestion happen through the same opening.

Insects: Specialized Mouths

Sucking and Sponging

Insects have highly specialized mouthparts based on their diet. They don't chew food like mammals; they 'tube' it in.
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Key Points

  1. Butterfly: Long coiled tube called 'Proboscis' to suck nectar.
  2. Mosquito: Piercing and sucking needle-like mouthparts for blood.
  3. Housefly: Sponging mouthparts that dissolve food with saliva first.
  4. The liquid diet travels directly into their digestive system.

Spider: External Digestion

The Web Weaver

Spiders have a unique way of eating. They cannot swallow solid food, so they turn their prey into a liquid 'soup' before consuming it.
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Key Points

  1. Spiders inject venom and digestive juices into the prey.
  2. The juices dissolve the soft tissues of the insect outside the spider.
  3. The spider then sucks up the liquid remains.
  4. This is known as external or partial digestion.

Frogs: Projectile Tongue

The Fast Snap

Frogs have a long, sticky tongue that is attached to the front of their mouth. This allows for a lightning-fast capture of flying insects.
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Key Points

  1. The tongue flicks out, sticks to the insect, and pulls it back.
  2. The entire process takes less than a fraction of a second.
  3. Frogs swallow their prey whole without chewing.
  4. They use their eyes to help push food down their throat!
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