medusa
Cnidarian swimming phase
A medusa is the free-swimming, umbrella-shaped stage in the life cycle of jellyfish and related animals.
The bell-shaped body trails tentacles and drifts through ocean currents: The medusa releases eggs into the water.
In casual usage, medusa can simply mean a jellyfish.
The plural is medusae or medusas. (Capitalized Medusa is the mythological Gorgon.)
jellyfish
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- stingerVenom-injecting body part
- translucentPermitting diffused light passage
gelatinous · drift · plankton · marine · bioluminescence · umbrella · pulsing · ocean
biology
Fleshy membrane projection
- hydrozoanMarine invertebrate with stinging cells
- life cycleOrganism's full developmental sequence
- reproductiveRelated to producing offspring
- buddingDeveloping from an outgrowth
cnidarian
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- stingerVenom-injecting body part
translucent · gelatinous · drift · plankton · marine · bioluminescence · umbrella · pulsing · ocean · sting
polyp
Fleshy membrane projection
- hydrozoanMarine invertebrate with stinging cells
- life cycleOrganism's full developmental sequence
- reproductiveRelated to producing offspring
budding · larva · alternation · free-swimming
- gorgon sisters
- mythical creaturesdragon, dragons, vampire, vampires, werewolf
- monstersdemon, monster, vampire, werewolf, ogre
- mythic beingscentaur, mermaid, merman, minotaur, satyr
- cnidarianssea anemone, corals, stony coral, moon jelly, jellyfish
- drinking gamesbeer pong, flip cup, kings cup, quarters, ring of fire
- medusa headSerpent-haired monster's severed visage
- Medusa's headSnake-crowned lethal countenance