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

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.