Colony (biology)

In biology, a colony (from Latin colonia) means several individual organisms of the same species living closely together, usually for mutual benefit, such as stronger defences, the ability to attack bigger prey etc. Some insects (ants, for example) live only in colonies. Another example is the Portuguese Man o' War, a colony of four different polyps.

Related Topics:
Biology - Latin - Organism - Species - Ant - Portuguese Man o' War - Polyps

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A colony of single-celled organisms is known as a colonial organism. Colonial organisms were probably the first step towards multicellular organisms during evolution. The difference between a multicellular organism and a colonial organism is that individual organisms from a colony can, if separated, survive on their own, while cells from a multicellular lifeform (e.g., liver cells) cannot. Volvox is an example for the border between these two states.

Related Topics:
Organism - Evolution - Multicellular organism - Cell - Liver - Volvox

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