Acrozoanthus is a monotypic genus of soft coral in the family Zoanthidae, order Zoantharia, class Hexacorallia, phylum Cnidaria. The genus was established by William Saville‑Kent in 1893 and comprises a single recognized species, Acrozoanthus australiae.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Cnidaria
- Subphylum: Anthozoa
- Class: Hexacorallia
- Order: Zoantharia
- Family: Zoanthidae
- Genus: Acrozoanthus Saville‑Kent, 1893
- Species: Acrozoanthus australiae Saville‑Kent, 1893
Description
Acrozoanthus species are soft corals (zoanthids) that form small, encrusting colonies composed of numerous polyps. The single species, A. australiae, is commonly referred to as the “stick polyp,” “tree stick polyp,” “tree anemone,” or “encrusting stick anemone.” These common names reflect its habit of attaching to substrates and its polyp morphology, which can resemble miniature anemones.
Distribution and Habitat
The species epithet “australiae” indicates that the organism is found in marine environments around Australia. Detailed range data are limited in the primary literature, but records from marine biodiversity databases confirm its presence in Australian reef habitats.
Ecology
As a member of the Zoanthidae, Acrozoanthus is a sessile, filter‑feeding cnidarian that captures planktonic particles using its tentacles. Like other zoanthids, it may host symbiotic zooxanthellae, though specific studies on A. australiae are not cited in the available sources.
References
- Reimer, J. (2015). Acrozoanthus Saville‑Kent, 1893. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved from http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=267196.
- “Stick Polyps.” Animal‑World. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
This entry is based on information available in the Wikipedia article for Acrozoanthus and corroborated by the World Register of Marine Species.