Pseudocorynactis
| Pseudocorynactis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Subclass: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Corallimorpharia |
| Family: | Corallimorphidae |
| Genus: | Pseudocorynactis den Hartog, 1980 |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
Pseudocorynactis is a genus of anthozoans similar in appearance to sea anemones and in body format to scleractinian stony corals. These animals are cnidarians in the family Corallimorphidae. Large unidentified polyps of this genus feed on the crown-of-thorns seastar Acanthaster planci and may help control the crown-of-thorns population.[1]
Feeding
Pseudocorynactis, like other corals in the phylum Corallimorpharia, depend highly on their production of zooxanthellae and numerous animals which find themselves trapped by the oral disk as benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, worms, echinoderms and even fishes. They are very aggressive eaters, which allows for them to feed on larger particles in the water column.
Species
Species so far described in this genus include:[2]
- Pseudocorynactis caboverdensis Den Hartog, Ocaña & Brito, 1993
- Pseudocorynactis caribbeorum Den Hartog, 1980
References
- ↑ Bos AR, GS Gumanao and FN Salac (2008). "A newly discovered predator of the crown-of-thorns starfish" (PDF). Coral Reefs 27: 581. doi:10.1007/s00338-008-0364-9.
- ↑ "World Register of Marine Species". Retrieved 16 July 2010.