The free swimming form of a cnidarians called a polyp?

Includes: Jellyfish, Corals, Anemones, Hydra Many cnidarian species have two different body forms during their lives. One is the free-swimming form, called the medusa (a jellyfish for instance). The other is an attached form called the polyp (which resembles a tiny sea anemone).

1. What is the free swimming form of a cnidarian called?
2. Are polyps free swimming cnidarians?
3. What is polyp in Cnidaria?
4. Can polyps swim?
5. What is polyp and medusa?
6. What is difference between polyp and medusa?
7. Are polyps free swimming?
8. What are the two forms of cnidarians?
9. What is the function of polyps?
10. What are called polyps?
11. What is polyps in geography?
12. What is nutritive polyp?
13. How do cnidarians swim?
14. What is an example of a polyp?
15. What is a cnidarians habitat?
16. How are polyp and medusa forms of cnidarians similar and different?
17. What is a Medusa in cnidarians?

What is the free swimming form of a cnidarian called?

planula, plural planulae, free-swimming or crawling larval type common in many species of the phylum Cnidaria (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones). The planula body is more or less cylindrical or egg-shaped and bears numerous cilia (tiny hairlike projections), which are used for locomotion.

Are polyps free swimming cnidarians?

Cnidarians have two basic body forms, medusa and polyp. Medusae, such as adult jellyfish, are free-swimming or floating. They usually have umbrella-shaped bodies and tetramerous (four-part) symmetry. ... Polyps, in contrast, are usually sessile.

What is polyp in Cnidaria?

polyp, in zoology, one of two principal body forms occurring in members of the animal phylum Cnidaria. The polyp may be solitary, as in the sea anemone, or colonial, as in coral, and is sessile (attached to a surface). ... The lower end of the polyp typically is adapted for attachment to a surface.

Can polyps swim?

Medusae swim by jet propulsion (see below Tissues and muscles). However, most do so weakly and are carried passively by currents over long distances. Polyps are generally sedentary.

What is polyp and medusa?

There are two basic cnidarian body shapes: a polyp form, which is attached to a surface; and an upside-down free-floating form called a medusa. Some cnidarians change form at different phases of their life cycle, while others remain in one form for their entire life.

What is difference between polyp and medusa?

Sessile structures are called polyps while the swimming forms are called medusa. The key difference between polyp and medusa is that polyp is a fixed, cylindrical structure, representing the asexual stage and medusa is a free swimming, umbrella-like structure, representing the sexual stage.

Are polyps free swimming?

Polyps is free swimming and flat while medus is cylindrical and attached to the bottom of the water body.

What are the two forms of cnidarians?

Cnidarians have two body forms—polyp and medusa—which often occur within the life cycle of a single cnidarian. Sea nettle (Chrysaora fuscescens). The body of a medusa, commonly called a jellyfish, usually has the shape of a bell or an umbrella, with tentacles hanging downward at the margin.

What is the function of polyps?

Polyps extend their tentacles, particularly at night, containing coiled stinging nettle-like cells or nematocysts which pierce and poison and firmly hold living prey paralysing or killing them.

What are called polyps?

Polyps are tissue growths that most often look like small, flat bumps or tiny mushroom-like stalks. Most polyps are small and less than half an inch wide. Uterine and colon polyps are the most common, but it's also possible to develop polyps in places that include the: ear canal. cervix.

What is polyps in geography?

Polyps, Colonies, and Reefs

Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied organisms related to sea anemones and jellyfish. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs. ... The polyp calicles connect to one another, creating a colony that acts as a single organism.

What is nutritive polyp?

(Zool.) any one of the zooids of a compound hydroid, or coral, which has a mouth and digestive cavity. See also: Nutritive.

How do cnidarians swim?

Jellyfish swim using a kind of jet propulsion. They contract their hollow, saucer-shaped bodies (called bells) to force water out, which propels them forward. Their long. tentacle-like arms, which trail out behind them, are used to sting and capture prey.

What is an example of a polyp?

The polyp body form is sessile, elongated, and hollow. ... Some Cnidarians take a polyp body form (e.g. sea anemones and corals); others, medusa (e.g. scyphozoans). But there are also Cnidarians that exhibit both polyp and medusa stages in their life cycle (e.g. most hydrozoans).

What is a cnidarians habitat?

Cnidarians can be found in almost all ocean habitats. They may live in water that is shallow or deep, warm or cold. A few species live in freshwater. Some cnidarians live alone, while others live in colonies. ... Coral reefs provide food and shelter to many ocean organisms.

How are polyp and medusa forms of cnidarians similar and different?

Medusa is a mobile life cycle stage of the Cnidaria phylum, contracting with it muscular bell. Polyp have a tubular shape and are fixed at their base, with the mouth present at the other end of the tube facing the water. Medusa have a bell shape, with tentacles hanging down. Polyp do not have a manubrium.

What is a Medusa in cnidarians?

medusa, in zoology, one of two principal body types occurring in members of the invertebrate animal phylum Cnidaria. It is the typical form of the jellyfish. ... The medusa is a free-swimming form; it moves by rhythmic muscular contractions of the bell, providing a slow propulsive action against the water.