| Zoanthus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dragon Eye zoanthids | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Order: | Zoantharia |
| Family: | Zoanthidae |
| Genus: | Zoanthus Lamarck, 1801 |
Zoanthus is a genus of anthozoans in the family Zoanthidae. It is the type genus for its family and order.
The following species are recognized in the genus Zoanthus: [1]
Zoanthids are prized in the fishkeeping hobby, being relatively easy to raise and very colorful. Known as "button polyps" or "zoas" they can spread to completely cover a rock with brightly colored circular patterns. It also exhibits proteins similar to green fluorescent protein.
Tube-dwelling anemones or ceriantharians look very similar to sea anemones but belong to an entirely different subclass of anthozoans. They are solitary, living buried in soft sediments. Tube anemones live inside and can withdraw into tubes, which are composed of a fibrous material made from secreted mucus and threads of nematocyst-like organelles known as ptychocysts. Within the tubes of these ceriantharians, more than one polyp is present, which is an exceptional trait because species that create tube systems usually contain only one polyp per tube. Ceriantharians were formerly classified in the taxon Ceriantipatharia along with the black corals but have since been moved to their own subclass, Ceriantharia.
Zoanthids are an order of cnidarians commonly found in coral reefs, the deep sea and many other marine environments around the world. These animals come in a variety of different colonizing formations and in numerous colors. They can be found as individual polyps, attached by a fleshy stolon or a mat that can be created from small pieces of sediment, sand and rock. The term "zoanthid" refers to all animals within this order Zoantharia, and should not be confused with "Zoanthus", which is one genus within Zoantharia.
Zoanthidae is a family of cnidarians.
Edwardsia is a genus of sea anemones, the type of the family Edwardsiidae. They have eight mesenteries and live in tubes in the sand. The name, in New Latin, commemorates the French zoologist Henri Milne-Edwards.
Neurogenic differentiation factor 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NEUROD2 gene.
Calvadosia is a genus of stalked jellyfish in the order Stauromedusae. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Kishinouyeidae.
Amphianthus is a genus of sea anemones. It is the only genus in the monotypic family Amphianthidae.
Pseudactinia is a genus of sea anemones in the family Actiniidae.
Isozoanthus is a genus of anemone-like anthozoans in the order Zoantharia.
Parazoanthidae is a family of cnidarians.
Parazoanthus is a genus of anemone-like anthozoans in the order Zoantharia.
Anemonia is a genus of sea anemones belonging to the family Actiniidae.
Palythoa is a genus of anthozoans in the order Zoantharia.
Zoanthus gigantus is a zoanthid first described from southern Japan.
Zoanthus kuroshio is a zoanthid first described from southern Japan.
Arachnanthus is a genus of tube-dwelling anemones in the family Arachnactidae. Members of the genus are found worldwide.
Abyssoanthus is a genus of cnidarians, the only genus in the family Abyssoanthidae.
Zoanthus sansibaricus is a species of zoanthid generally found in the Indo-pacific but also off the western coast of South America. The range of habitation has been noted in intertidal zones along with areas below 7 m, but shows phenotypical and morphological differences based on depth and shading. Shaded individuals contain larger polyps compared to unshaded. It can be divided into three reproductive categories, male, female and asexual. Spawning has been observed within the middle of July, using lunar phases as an indicator. Various subclades are theorized to appear based on the time of year.
Terrazoanthus is a genus of corals belonging to the family Hydrozoanthidae.
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