Corynactis

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Corynactis
Corynactis australis 389639.jpeg
Corynactis australis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Subphylum: Anthozoa
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Corallimorpharia
Family: Corallimorphidae
Genus: Corynactis
Allman, 1846
Synonyms
  • DraytoniaDuchassaing de Fombressin & Michelotti, 1864
  • Pseudocorynactisden Hartog, 1980
  • SphincteractisZamponi, 1976

Corynactis is a genus of colonial anthozoans similar in appearance to sea anemones and in body format to scleractinian stony corals. These animals are cnidarians in the family Corallimorphidae. Large unidentified polyps of this genus feed on the crown-of-thorns seastar Acanthaster planci and may help control the crown-of-thorns population. [1]

Contents

Species

Species so far described in this genus include: [2]

Feeding

Corynactis, like other corals in the phylum Corallimorpharia, depend highly on their production of zooxanthellae and numerous animals which find themselves trapped by the oral disk as benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, worms, echinoderms and even fishes. They are very aggressive eaters, which allows for them to feed on larger particles in the water column.

References

  1. ↑ Bos AR, GS Gumanao; FN Salac (2008). "A newly discovered predator of the crown-of-thorns starfish" (PDF). Coral Reefs. 27: 581. doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0364-9.
  2. ↑ "Corynactis". WoRMS. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
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