Cnidaria Reproduction
Cnidaria is a phylum that consists of over 10,000 known species of animals found in aquatic and marine environments.
Cnadrians reproduce both sexually and asexually, using polyps and medusae, which are two forms of cnadria. Polyps and medusae reproduce asexually by budding, but also take part in sexual reproduction for some cnadrians. One example of this is in jelly fish. A larva swims around until it finds a good site, and then becomes a polyp. It then undergoes a process called Storbilation, where the polyp absorbs tentacles and splits horizontally into a series of disks that become juvenile medusae. The juveniles swim off, and slowly mature. While maturing the polyp re-grows and may continue to storbilate. The juvenile forms into an adult and develops gonads in gastroderm. The gonads then release ova and sperm into the water during breeding season. Another way that cnadrian sexually reproduce is through a process called spawning. Spawning is when the eggs and sperm of an aquatic animal are released in water. It is caused by environmental factors such as changes in water temperature. Females release ova into the water, and males release sperm to fertilize the eggs. The release of ova and sperm are caused by lighting conditions such as sunrise, sunset, or the phase of the moon.
All known Cnadrians can reproduce asexually, by budding or splitting down the middle. For example Hydrozoan polyps only bud, while the medusae of some hydrozonans can only divide down the middle. Sycphozoan polyps can do both.
Cnadrians reproduce both sexually and asexually, using polyps and medusae, which are two forms of cnadria. Polyps and medusae reproduce asexually by budding, but also take part in sexual reproduction for some cnadrians. One example of this is in jelly fish. A larva swims around until it finds a good site, and then becomes a polyp. It then undergoes a process called Storbilation, where the polyp absorbs tentacles and splits horizontally into a series of disks that become juvenile medusae. The juveniles swim off, and slowly mature. While maturing the polyp re-grows and may continue to storbilate. The juvenile forms into an adult and develops gonads in gastroderm. The gonads then release ova and sperm into the water during breeding season. Another way that cnadrian sexually reproduce is through a process called spawning. Spawning is when the eggs and sperm of an aquatic animal are released in water. It is caused by environmental factors such as changes in water temperature. Females release ova into the water, and males release sperm to fertilize the eggs. The release of ova and sperm are caused by lighting conditions such as sunrise, sunset, or the phase of the moon.
All known Cnadrians can reproduce asexually, by budding or splitting down the middle. For example Hydrozoan polyps only bud, while the medusae of some hydrozonans can only divide down the middle. Sycphozoan polyps can do both.