zoological colony

In zoology, colony formed when an organism gives rise to several buds which adhere to the parent and continue to reproduce by budding. Such colonies are common among sponges and corals.

The freshwater hydra forms a temporary colony, while many other forms, including most corals, are permanently colonial. In many cases the individuals that make up a colony perform identical functions, but in the condition known as polymorphism, the functions are specialized and allotted to various members. Thus the individuality of the members is frequently lost, and they become almost like organs instead of whole living creatures; this happens, for instance in the Portuguese man-of-war.