Final answer:
Hydra reproduce through a form of asexual reproduction known as budding, where a new organism forms from a bud on the parent body, eventually detaching to become independent. This method ensures genetic identicality to the parent, and while common among invertebrates like Hydra and some corals, it differs from other asexual methods like fission and fragmentation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which Hydra reproduce asexually is through budding. Budding involves the formation of a new organism from an outgrowth, or bud, due to cell division at one particular site. This bud develops into an adult and eventually detaches from the parent organism to become a separate individual. Hydra, being simple invertebrate animals, are classic examples of organisms that use budding as a means of asexual reproduction. This form of reproduction ensures that the offspring are genetically identical to the parent since there is no exchange or mixing of genetic material as seen in sexual reproduction.
It's important to note that budding is not exclusive to Hydra, as some corals also reproduce through this means. However, in the case of corals like Lophelia pertusa, the buds often do not detach and instead contribute to the growth of a new colony. Contrasting with other forms of asexual reproduction such as binary fission in bacteria or fragmentation in starfish and fungi, budding in Hydra leads to the formation of a distinct offspring that grows whilst attached to the parent before becoming independent.