Scyphozoa
.
The medusa phase dominates in most of the 200 species of scyphozoans, the cnidarians most frequently referred to as jellyfish. Scyphozoan medusae are larger and have a more complicated structure than the short-lived medusae of the hydrozoans. Scyphozoan medusae live several months or more, reproducing sexually to form small, inconspicuous polyps. Polyps reproduce asexually to form a medusa—saucer-like structures bud off the polyp and swim away as new medusae.
The medusa phase dominates in most of the 200 species of scyphozoans, the cnidarians most frequently referred to as jellyfish. Scyphozoan medusae are larger and have a more complicated structure than the short-lived medusae of the hydrozoans. Scyphozoan medusae live several months or more, reproducing sexually to form small, inconspicuous polyps. Polyps reproduce asexually to form a medusa—saucer-like structures bud off the polyp and swim away as new medusae.
Comments