Fact Friday
Some cnidarians switch between a polyp and a medusa body form. Corals and anemones only have the polyp stage. Jellyfish, as we think of them, are in the medusa stage, but they have a polyp stage when they are juveniles. Hydrozoans have the opposite: their adult form is a polyp, but they have a juvenile medusa stage.
Photo Credit: KSLOF, Rob Martimbeault
January 24, 2025
Surgeonfish
Why is it called a surgeonfish? Surgeonfish get their name from the pair of spines that are as sharp as a scalpel. The spines are usually tucked into a groove in their tail, but if you get too close – watch out!
Photo Credit: Ken Marks
