An immature medusa (about 1 mm in diameter)
at the 16 tentacle stage. When first released from the polyp, an immature medusa
has 8 tentacles, but within several days, the number of tentacles increases to
16. A mature medusa will have several hundred tentacles. The large pendulum like
structure within the bell of the medusa is called the manubrium. At the tip of
the manubrium is the mouth. At this stage of development, the medusa does not
have gonads.
BACK