Anthozoan
(Science: zoology) Pertaining to the anthozoa.
One of the anthozoa.
Definition
noun, plural: anthozoans
Any of the animals (e.g. sea anemones and corals) belonging to class Anthozoa of coelenterate
Supplement
The anthozoans are animals belonging to class Anthozoa. The class Anthozoa has three subclasses: (1) Hexacorallia (includes stony corals, sea anemones, tube anemones, and zoanthids), (2) Octocaorallia (e.g. blue coral, soft corals, sea pens, and gorgonians), and (3) Ceriantharia (e.g. tube-dwelling anemones). The anthozoans differ from other cnidarians in lacking a medusa stage in their life cycle. The basic morphological unit is a clear polyp body with a central mouth surrounded by a ring of stinging tentacles.
The corals may be grouped into hard and soft corals. The hard corals are those that help build coral reefs. They deposit calcium carbonate as they form a hard exoskeleton. The coral species do not belong to only one subclass of Anthozoa but they do join with other groups of animals such as sea anemones, zoanthids, etc. in their respective subclasses.
The sea anemones are the soft-bodied anthozoans belonging to the order Actinaria. They have colorful cylindrical body with a mouth surrounded by tentacles. Their tentacles when expanded resemble the petals of flowers.
Scientific classification:
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Subkingdom: Eumetazoa
- Phylum: Cnidaria
- Class: Anthozoa Ehrenberg, 1834
See also:
