Hydra Regeneration

Hydras are simple aquatic animals related to anemones and jellyfish. They can reproduce by “budding” a new animal from the trunk.

Hydras constantly renew their body cells, which assume different roles as they migrate to different parts of the body and then eventually slough off from the tentacles or the foot. When a hydra is cut into several pieces, each piece will regenerate a head and a foot.

Although hydras have a relatively simple tissue organization, they do have specialized cells that perform the nervous, digestive, and muscular functions.