Zoanthus is a genus of anthozoans in the family Zoanthidae. It is the type genus for its family and order.
Species
The following species are recognized in the genus Zoanthus:
- Zoanthus coppingeri <small>Haddon & Shackleton, 1891</small>
- Zoanthus durbanensis <small>Carlgren, 1938</small>
- Zoanthus gigantus <small>Reimer & Tsukahara in Reimer, Ono, Iwama, Takishita, Tsukahara & Maruyama, 2006</small>
- Zoanthus kealakekuaensis <small>Walsh & Bowers, 1971</small>
- Zoanthus kuroshio <small>Reimer & Ono in Reimer, Ono, Iwama, Takishita, Tsukahara & Maruyama, 2006</small>
- Zoanthus mantoni (may be synonymous with Zoanthus coppingeri)
- Zoanthus natalensis <small>Carlgren, 1938</small>
- Zoanthus praelongus <small>Carlgren, 1954</small>
- Zoanthus pulchellus <small>(Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860)</small>
- Zoanthus robustus <small>Carlgren, 1950</small>
- Zoanthus sansibaricus <small>Carlgren, 1900</small>
- Zoanthus sociatus <small>(Ellis, 1768)</small>
- Zoanthus solanderi <small>Le Sueur, 1818</small>
- Zoanthus vietnamensis <small>Pax & Müller, 1957</small>
Aquaria
Zoanthids are prized in the aquarium 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.
See also
References