Taxonomy
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Zoantharia
Family: Zoanthidae
Genus: Zoanthus
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Button Polyp
Button Polyp
Zoanthus sp.
Zoanthus sp.
Habitat & Distribution : Indo-Pacific Ocean
Diet : Photosynthesis from zooxanthellae
Size : Polyp diameter: 10 - 12 mm
Lifespan : 2 - 5 years
Deskription
colonial soft corals featuring large, fleshy, brown-to-tan discs with short tentacles, often found in shallow Indo-Pacific reefs.
Behavior
Some types of zoanthids contain palytoxin, which is known to cause blindness if exposed to the eyes, and if absorbed through the skin in sufficient quantities, can trigger the formation of tumors.
Reproduction
They are mainly asexual and reproduce by budding but are also able to reproduce sexually
Communication & Perception
Like most corals, they communicate using chemical cues
Predators
Angelfish, butterfly fish, sea snails, sea stars
Conservation Status : Not Evaluated/ Unlisted
Fun Fact
Some zoanthid species contain palytoxin, which is known to cause blindness if exposed to the eyes and, if absorbed through the skin in sufficient quantities, can trigger tumor formation. Therefore, zoanthids must be handled with extreme caution.
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