A jellyfish's birth can be quite unique, especially in schyphozoans, involving a fascinating process called strobilation.
Strobilation: The Birth of a Jellyfish
Strobilation is the method by which schyphozoan jellies reproduce. Here's a breakdown of the process:
- Polyp Formation: The process starts with a polyp, a small, stalk-like structure.
- Strobilation: The polyp then undergoes strobilation, where it transforms into a strobila. This involves the polyp segmenting into a stack of plate-like structures. According to provided reference, a polyp splits into 10-15 plate-like segments stacked atop one another in a tower called a strobila.
- Ephyra Release: Each segment eventually separates from the strobila. Once a segment separates, it becomes an ephyra, which is essentially a juvenile jellyfish.
- Growth to Adulthood: The ephyra then grows and develops into a mature jellyfish.
