Zoanthus

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 Haddon & Shackleton, 1891
Zoanthus durbanensis Carlgren, 1938
Zoanthus gigantus Reimer & Tsukahara in Reimer, Ono, Iwama, Takishita, Tsukahara & Maruyama, 2006
Zoanthus kealakekuaensis Walsh & Bowers, 1971
Zoanthus kuroshio Reimer & Ono in Reimer, Ono, Iwama, Takishita, Tsukahara & Maruyama, 2006
Zoanthus mantoni
Zoanthus natalensis Carlgren, 1938
Zoanthus praelongus Carlgren, 1954
Zoanthus pulchellus
Zoanthus robustus Carlgren, 1950
Zoanthus sansibaricus Carlgren, 1900
Zoanthus sociatus
Zoanthus solanderi Le Sueur, 1818
Zoanthus vietnamensis Pax & Müller, 1957

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].