Question

What is the difference between a medusa and polyp?

Answer 1

Medusa:

1. A medusa is a type of cnidarian with a body structured like an umbrella in biology.

Polyp:

1. The polyp is the other major body shape.
2. The polyp is the sessile, cylindrical, and asexual form, whereas medusa is the free-living, umbrella-like sexual form.

Medusa	Polyp
1. Medusae come in a variety of shapes, from bell-shaped to thin disk-shaped, barely convex above and only slightly concave below.	1. Polyps are tissue growths that resemble little, flat bumps or miniature mushroom stems. The majority of polyps are tiny, measuring less than half an inch in diameter.
2. Medusa is a free-swimming organism.	2. Polyps is a sissile organism. (The biological characteristic of an organism that describes its absence of a method of self-motion is called sessility.)
3. Found in open waters.	3. Found attached to rocks with watermark.
4. Reproduces sexually by gametes.	4. Reproduces asexually by budding.