21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Hyrdra feeding on a waterflea

Hydra are small multicellular organisms living in fresh water ponds. They are 1-3 mm in size and they feed on smaller waterfleas seen attached to one of the hydras tentracles. Hyrda have poisonous stinging tentacles (not harmful to people). They capture and swallow waterfleas whole. Hydra are used in research studies because these organisms do not age. Viewed with a combination of Polarized light and darkfield illumination at 25X.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 06.2023
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Calgary, Canada
Copyright: © Robert Berdan