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medusa

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Dictionary: me·du·sa   (mĭ-dū'sə, -zə, -dyū'-) pronunciation
 
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n., pl. -sas or -sae (-sē, -zē).

The tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish.

[Latin Medūsa, Medusa (from the Medusa's snaky locks). See Medusa.]


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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: medusa
 
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Britannica Concise Encyclopedia

Medusa stage of a jellyfish
(click to enlarge)
Medusa stage of a jellyfish (credit: Tom McHugh — Photo Researchers)
In zoology, one of the two principal cnidarian body forms; the typical form of the jellyfish. Its name derives from its tentacles, resembling the snakes borne by Medusa in place of hair. The medusoid body is bell- or umbrella-shaped. Hanging downward from the center is a stalklike structure, the manubrium, bearing the mouth at its tip. The mouth opens into the main body cavity, which connects with radial canals extending to the outer rim of the bell. A free-swimming form, the medusa moves by rhythmic muscular contractions of the bell, providing a slow propulsive action against the water. The other principal cnidarian body type is the polyp.

For more information on medusa, visit Britannica.com.

 
Veterinary Dictionary: medusa
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Jellyfish; a colony of animals comprising a bell from which hang a number of filaments and tentacles. Called also hydromedusa. Inflict painful stings and can cause death, even of humans. See also hydrozoa.

  • m. head colonies — colonies of Bacillus anthracis on agar have this appearance of being domes with a fringe of filaments.
 
Wikipedia: Medusa (biology)
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 This animal article requires cleanup to conform to a higher standard of quality. The article's talk page may have suggestions.

In biology, a medusa (plural: medusae) is a form of cnidarian in which the body is shortened on its principal axis and broadened, sometimes greatly, in contrast with polyps. Medusae vary from bell-shaped to the shape of a thin disk, scarcely convex above and only slightly concave below. The upper or aboral surface is called the exumbrella and the lower surface is called the subumbrella; the mouth is located on the lower surface, which may be partially closed by a membrane extending inward from the margin (called the velum). The digestive cavity consists of the gastrovascular cavity and radiating canals which extend toward the margin; these canals may be simple or branching, and vary in number from few to many. The margin of the disk bears sensory organs and tentacles.

In the class Hydrozoa, medusae are the sexual individuals of many species, alternating in the life cycle with asexual polyps. The medusa form of Hydrozoans are known as hydromedusae.

The medusa form predominates in the classes Scyphozoa (the common, colorful, large jellyfish) and Cubozoa. Except for freshwater hydrozoans like Craspedacusta sowerbyi, these are the only classes in which medusae appear.

German biologist Ernst Haeckel popularized medusae through his vivid illustrations, particularly in Kunstformen der Natur.

Haeckel's medusae

Discomedusae

Narcomedusae

Discomedusae

Trachomedusae

Discomedusae

Leptomedusae

Peromedusae

Anthomedusae

Stauromedusae

Cubomedusae (modern Cubozoa)

Discomedusae

Discomedusae

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
Translations: Medusa
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Dansk (Danish)
n. - Medusa (myt.), gople, meduse

Nederlands (Dutch)
Medusa (Griekse mythologie), kwal

Français (French)
n. - méduse

Deutsch (German)
n. - Qualle

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μέδουσα

Italiano (Italian)
medusa

Português (Portuguese)
n. - medusa (f) (Zool.)

Русский (Russian)
медуза, Медуза Горгона

Español (Spanish)
n. - medusa, aguaviva

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - manet

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
水母

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 水母

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 메두사(괴물의 하나)

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - クラゲ

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) سمكه هلاميه, شقيقات ثلاث في الأساطير الإغريقيه‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מדוזה, דמות מיתולוגית מפחידה‬

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Did you mean: medusa, Medusa (Mythical Character), Medusa (Rock Band), jellyfish (fish), Medusa (NY), Medusa (first name) More...


 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Medusa (biology)".  Read more
Translations. Copyright © 2007, WizCom Technologies Ltd. All rights reserved.  Read more

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