1. The common tissue or body wall that connects the individual polyps of a colonial hydroid or coral.
Usage: biology; zoology; technical

Examples

• The coenosarc of the hydroid colony allows nutrients to be shared among all the polyps.
• In colonial corals, the coenosarc forms a continuous living layer beneath the skeleton.
• The coenosarc connects each polyp to its neighbors, creating an integrated organism.
• Damage to the coenosarc can affect the entire colony's ability to feed and reproduce.
• Marine biologists study the coenosarc to understand how colonial animals coordinate their activities.