Question

Compare and contrast the polyp and medusa forms of cnidarians.

Short answer

The polyp phase in the life cycle of cnidarians is attached to the substratum; the body of the cnidarian is attached to the base and not moving, whereas medusa is constantly moving and is a mobile phase.

The polyp stage is found attached to the rocks within the water boundaries. The medusa stage is freely flowing in the open waters.

Step-by-step solution

Cnidarians

Cnidarians are the diverse form of hydra, jellyfishes, or corals. They belong to the kingdom Animalia and comprise aquatic animals of all the marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Cnidarians are seen in two types of body forms, which are polyp and medusa. Cnidarians may possess both body structures in their life cycle. By budding, a polyp can produce either polyp or medusa, but medusa produces only a medusa via budding.

Polyp body structure of cnidarians

The polyp can be single, like a sea anemone, or colonial, like coral, and it is sessile (attached to a surface). The polyp reproduces asexually by the process of budding.

The upper end of the body, which is hollow and cylindrical, is frequently surrounded by extendable appendages that possess complex stinging mechanism called nematocysts.

Medusa body structure of cnidarians

Medusa is the typical structure of jellyfish that belongs to cnidarians. The bell- or umbrella-shaped dome forms the structure of a medusa. The manubrium, a stalk-like structure with the mouth at its apex, hangs down from the center.

The primary purpose of the medusa structure is to carry out sexual reproduction and produce gametes that allow them to disseminate species to new areas.

Thus, the structure of polyp and medusa are present in a cnidarian during their life cycle. The medusa form is explicitly used for sexual reproduction, and the polyp is used for attachment and adherence to different structures.