In the order
Leptomedusae, the gonophores are borne on much-reduced hydranths and are usually protected in a
peridermal (i.e. belonging to a hydroid
perisarc) gonotheca. Medusae forming on fully developed hydranths are extremely rare; usually the gonophores develop into medusae or into sessile sporosacs. In the superfamily
Plumularioidea, they usually occur as fixed sporosacs (i.e. gonophores held in place and not released into the water during larval development). More rarely they are rather reduced medusoids. In the family
Lovenellidae, the gonophores are
pedunculate free-roaming medusae. In the family
Haleciidae, they are typically sporosacs, growing singly or bunched into a
glomulus. They remain attached to the hydroids or break off to passively drift away; in a few species, the gonophores are naked. In the family
Sphaerocorynidae, the gonophores are borne singly or on short, branching
blastostyles (i.e. the living axial portion of a modified
gonangium, from which numerous medusae are budded) between or below tentacles. They develop into free medusae or eumedusoids. In the family
Corynidae, they are borne on hydranths and either liberated as free medusae or retained as medusoids or sessile sporosacs. In the family
Hydrocorynidae, they are borne in clusters on the proximal part of the hydranth body or develop from
hydrorhiza (i.e. the stalk of a colony). The gonophores develop into free medusae or sessile sporosacs. In the family
Candelabridae, they are fixed sporosacs. They develop on the aboral part of the hydranth below the tentacle-covered region, either directly on the hydranth or on spindle-shaped blastostyles. In the family
Tubulariidae, they develop above the aboral tentacles and develop into free medusae or fixed sporosacs. In the family
Corymorphidae, they are borne above aboral tentacles, either directly issuing from the hydranth wall or on blastostyles. The gonophores develop into free medusae or fixed sporosacs. In the family
Tricyclusidae, they are fixed sporosacs, with only male specimens observed. In the family
Pennariidae, they develop above the aboral tentacles. They may or may not liberate eumedusoids. The gonophores in the family
Cladocorynidae are carried singly or on short, branched pedicels on the lower or middle part of the hydranth. They develop into free medusae or fixed sporosacs. The gonophores in the family
Solanderiidae, where known, arise directly from
coenosarc (i.e. the hollow living tubes of the upright branching individuals of a colony). They are cryptomedusoid or eumedusoid. In the family
Milleporidae, they arise from the coenosarc within chambers embedded entirely in the
coenosteum (i.e. the calcareous mass forming the skeleton of a compound coral). ==See also==