Button Polyps [Zoanthus sociatus]
Description
Zoanthus sociatus, or button polyps, are a type of marine zoanthid that forms large colonies. They are typically greenish or brown, but can also be seen in bright colors, especially when kept in aquariums. Button polyps are found in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, often in shallow lagoons. They contain symbiotic zooxanthellae, which provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Zoanthids
Zoantharia
|
| Family |
Zoanthids
Zoanthidae
|
| Genus |
Zoanthus
Zoanthus
|