"Cnidarians of the genus Obelia form colonies of polyps in their asexual generation. Two kinds of polyps, feeding and reproductive, bud but fall to separate from an upright, anchored stalk, remaining instead as the branchlike structures seen in the picture. Each one, called a subindividual because its actions are governed by the entire colony's, has a transparent, horny covering into which it can withdraw. The two types differ otherwise in structure. Only feeding polyps have tentacles with which to draw food to wards them, but because both are hollow, partially digested food can travel through the colony's continuous digestive cavity to nourish the reproductive polyps. The medusa, or sexual stage of the organism, emerges form the opening of the reproductive polyp as saucer-shaped mass of jelly." (1)
Another Jellyfish:
Common Name: Pencil jellyfish
Scientific Name: Polyorchus pencillatus
Facts: It has a ring of very long tentacles that the jellyfish can retract quickly if it becomes disturbed. The size of the bell is only about 2-3 inches.
(1) "Obelia Colony," Microsoft Encarta 96 encyclopedia. 1993-1995 Microsoft Corporation.
