On the upper face of the hydranth the crown of tentacles (t) surrounds the peristome, from which rises the conical hypostome, bearing the mouth at its extremity.
Hypostome, bearing mouth at its extremity.
The parasitic actinula is found attached to the proboscis of the medusa; it thrusts its greatly elongated hypostome into the mouth of the medusa and nourishes itself upon the food in the digestive cavity of its host.
In the latter the single pair of antennae springing up from each side of the camerostome or hypostome or upper lip-lobe are seen.
The peristome is relatively small and the mouth is generally raised on a projecting spout or hypostome.