Hydrozoans: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 16:11, 26 February 2014
Hydrozoans
Description
- Sub-group of Gnidarians
- Polyp and Medusa life stages
- Polyp is stationary and buds free floating reproductive Medusa.[1]
- Huge diversity of body types and life cycles
- Often develop colonies, which can take many different forms2
- Coral-like (fire corals)
- Unlike true corals which consist of many cells of an individual animal, Hydrozoan corals consist of individual members called Zooids that together function as a colonial animal(3)
- Free floating (jellyfish-like)
- Resemble jellyfish, actually a colony consisting of multiple groups of mature Medusa
- Coral-like (fire corals)
Distribution
- Found in every ocean around the world
- Almost entirely in salt water