Hydrozoans: Difference between revisions
From coraldigest
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#*Polyp is stationary and buds free floating reproductive Medusa.<ref name=”animaldiversity”> http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hydrozoa/</ref> | #*Polyp is stationary and buds free floating reproductive Medusa.<ref name=”animaldiversity”> http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Hydrozoa/</ref> | ||
#Huge diversity of body types and life cycles | #Huge diversity of body types and life cycles | ||
#Often develop colonies, which can take many different forms | #Often develop colonies, which can take many different forms.<ref name="berkelyhydrozoa"> http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/cnidaria/hydrozoa.html</ref> | ||
#*Coral-like (fire corals) | #*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) | #**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) | ||
Revision as of 16:13, 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 forms.[2]
- 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