Quality Scientific Model of a Hydra

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A very good example of a hand painted biological model from the 1960’s. Now collectable and 1906 “scientifically decorative”.

The Hydra is a small fresh water animal with remarkable properties. These predatory little creatures possess radial symmetry and can be found in many un-polluted fresh water ponds. Multi-cellular and only a few millimetres long they lend themselves to microscopic study. They have an incredible regenerative capacity which makes them extremely interesting … they do not appear to age or die of old age.

The tubular body is secured by a sticky foot called the basal disc. At the other end a mouth opening is surrounded by a number of tentacles each of which is clothed in stinging cells (oouch!). The nasty bits explosively discharge a dart of neurotoxins into the prey sometimes in their hundreds (double ooouch!). They reproduce by growing “buds” on the body wall which become miniature Hydra that break away (convenient). They also have another more complex manner of reproduction when times get tough for food. All of this and more makes the Hydra a very interesting little beauty to study.

Hard to get quality model of the common but very mysterious everlasting Hydra

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