As many of you know the hydra is a multi-cellular organism in the field of science. It is best observed with a microscope because it is only around a few millimeters long in length. They are most remarkably interesting because of their unique regenerative ability along with the way they appear to undergo senescene extremely slow if they do at all. Senescene is the process of an organism in biology approaching an advanced age. The hydra is in the shape of a tube somewhat and it’s mouth opening is surrounding by one to twelve very thin tentacles. You can usually find them in most unpolluted ponds, lakes, and streams in more tropical regions. There are also some very interesting things about the hydra such as the way they eat and their process of reproduction.
The first interesting thing about the hydra is the way it reproduces. The hydra reproduces in two ways and the first is called asexual reproduction. Under pretty good conditions and when food is most plentiful is when this process usually occurs. This kind of reproduction takes place in the winter and the process that goes through is called budding. The hydra simply forms buds on its body walls or on the sides of its body. These organisms are pretty much lumps attached to the sides of a female hydra. They then grow into miniature adults and when they grow tentacles and are fully developed they break away. In the summer or when food conditions are poor sexual reproduction takes place. Swelling on the sides of the bodies develop into either ovaries or testes. The testes release freeswimming gametes and they can fertilize the ovary. These now fertilized eggs go down to the bottom of the water, awaiting better conditions, and then hatch into miniature adults.
The most amazing thing about the hydra though and is especially cool to see up close is the way it feeds. The first thing it does has to do with the body and it will extend itself to maximum length. At the same time its tentacles will start to extend....