Heterocyathus


Heterocyathus is a genus of coral of the family Caryophylliidae.

Species

Heterocyathus aequicostatus Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848
  • * Subspecies Heterocyathus aequicostatus delicatus Sakakura, 1935
  • * Subspecies Heterocyathus aequicostatus parasiticus Semper, 1872Heterocyathus alternatus Verrill, 1865Heterocyathus antoniae Reyes, Santodomingo & Cairns, 2009Heterocyathus hemisphaericus Gray, 1849Heterocyathus sulcatus Heterocyathus cochlea Heterocyathus eupsammides Gray, 1849Heterocyathus hemisphericus Gray, 1849Heterocyathus heterocostatus Harrison, 1911Heterocyathus incrustans Heterocyathus japonicus Heterocyathus lamellosus Heterocyathus mai Cheng, 1971Heterocyathus oblongatus Rehberg, 1892Heterocyathus parasiticus Semper, 1872Heterocyathus philippensis Semper, 1872Heterocyathus philippinensis Semper, 1872Heterocyathus pulchellus Rehberg, 1892Heterocyathus roussaeanus Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1848Heterocyathus rousseaui Heterocyathus woodmasoni Alcock, 1893

Ecology

'Mobility of this genus is facultative which means they have the capacity to move around but not always will they exhibit it. Heterocyathus could have zooxanthellae in shallow water, however, they may live on without symbiotic algae at deeper depths. The Heterocyathus species is sometimes hermatypic or a hard coral primarily responsible for reef-building. In the case of Heterocyathus, reefs are made as the species produces layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies. They show epifaunal characteristics and hence are seen in deeper areas of water. They are microcarnivores feeding on tiny organisms. A species of hermit crabs, Diogenidae Heteropsammia, allows for the Heterocyathus the ability to roam around the seafloor.

Symbiotic Relationships

Heterocyathus has both a mutualism and parasitism relationship with another organism called the Albian scleractinian- sipunculan. The coral benefits since the worm offers nutrients and food, meanwhile the worm benefits since the coral is a form of protection or shelter. However, if the shell of the coral outgrows the worm, the worm benefits by gaining total protection, thus making a parasitism relationship
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0184311