Give one significant difference between polyp and medusa.

• a. Polyps come under cnidarians, while medusa comes under mollusks
• b. Polyp is a free swimming and flat while medusa is cylindrical and attached to bottom of water bodies
• c. Polyp is cylindrical and usually fixed. The medusa is umbrella like and usually free swimming
• d. Polyps belong to molluscs and medusa belongs to cnidaria

The significant difference between polyp and medusa lies in their structure and lifestyle.

Key Distinction

Polyp is typically cylindrical and often remains fixed to a surface, while medusa has an umbrella-like shape and is usually free-swimming.

Characteristics of Polyps

• Cylindrical shape
• Usually attached to a substrate
• Examples include sea anemones and coral

Characteristics of Medusa

• Umbrella-shaped body
• Free-swimming in the water column
• Examples include jellyfish

Thus, the correct answer is: c. Polyp is cylindrical and usually fixed. The medusa is umbrella-like and usually free-swimming.