Description of life cycle and mating behavior |
Undergoes metagenesis, alternation between polyp and medusa generation. Sessile polyps reproduce asexually (i.e. podocyst formation). During spring and summer, undergoes strobilation to give rise to ephyrae, which rapidly grows into dioecious medusae. Hermaphroditism is known but rare. Eggs are shed into gastrovascular cavity. Fertilization takes place either in the cavity or externally and produces free-swimming planula larvae, which settles on firm substrate and eventually develop in polyps.
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