Matumbawe ni wanyama wadogo wa faila Cnidaria ya wanyama-upupu.
Kila mnyama ana umbo la mfuko mwenye urefu wa milimita au sentimita chache; uwazi upande mmoja ni mdomo na pia mkundu unaoviringishwa na minyiri.
Kuna aina nyingi na tofauti za matumbawe lakini kwa jumla hawatembei bali hukaa pamoja chini ya maji ya bahari mahali pamoja. Spishi nyingi za matumbawe hujijengea kiunzi nje wakitumia chokaa kinachopatikana katika maji ya bahari na kujenga ama msingi wa kukaa imara au chumba kidogo cha kujikinga. Wakati tumbawe anakufa wengine huendelea kijenga juu ya viunzi nje vitupu vya watangulizi vyao. Kwa njia mwamba tumbawe unaanza kukua; visiwa vingi vya bahari tropiki vimefanywa na mwamba tumbawe.
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