Green Hydra

Green hydra carry photosynthetic algae (Chlorella) within their cells, creating a self-feeding system. The hydra provides protection and nutrients; the algae provide food through photosynthesis. This symbiosis is so tight that the hydra appears green. In light-rich environments, green hydras can survive without any external food—they're essentially solar-powered animals.

This symbiosis modifies the hydra's regeneration strategy. Green hydras must regenerate in ways that preserve their algal partners; the algae must divide when the hydra's cells divide. The immortality system becomes a joint project between two organisms rather than an individual achievement. Neither partner can easily exit the relationship.

For business strategy, green hydra demonstrate how symbiotic partnerships can fundamentally modify organizational strategies. A company that merges with or deeply integrates a partner becomes a different entity with different capabilities and constraints. The partnership may enable new capabilities (solar-powered survival) while creating dependencies (can't regenerate without partner).

The green hydra's reduced need for prey also illustrates how symbiosis can shift competitive strategies. A hydra that doesn't need to hunt can tolerate environments and conditions that starve competitors. Similarly, businesses with alternative revenue sources (like cash cows or investment returns) can survive market conditions that bankrupt competitors dependent solely on current sales.