Question

What is ephyra larva and its functions?

Answer 1

The main growing cycle of insects or reptiles is stage of larva to middle stage and finally to become an adult. Ephyra larva is a kind of jellyfish.

Complete answer:
- Ephyra larva is an immature medusa stage. It comes into the world through metamorphosis of scyphistoma (which resembles a fixed polyp-like stage in the life of jellyfish). Its size is just a few millimetres. It swims and feeds on small plants.
- It is the immature stage of an organism whose scientific name is Aurellia Aurita or commonly called jellyfish. Jellyfish can reproduce either sexually or through asexual mode of reproduction.
- Growth of ephyra larva is classified into three types –
- It takes birth as a larva which is the first stage of its life-cycle.
- Next stage involves growing up from larva to an adult one. At this stage, the buds get off as larva progresses towards an adult stage. This cut-off larva is able to swim and is thereby able to complete life cycle.
- At the final and third stage, growth of young medusa takes place from the upper end. The process of reproduction of ephyra larva is called budding or strobilation.
- Functions of ephyra larva involve inhibition of a variety of planktons. Ephyra larva helps in growing of immature medusa stage to adult jellyfish.

Note: The ephyra larva undergoes asexual method of reproduction which is common among plants and many single-celled organisms. The ephyra larva plays main role in asexual reproduction and regeneration.