Palythoa tuberculosa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Palythoa tuberculosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Norfolk Island, 2023 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Subphylum: | Anthozoa |
| Class: | Hexacorallia |
| Order: | Zoantharia |
| Family: | Sphenopidae |
| Genus: | Palythoa |
| Species: | P. tuberculosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Palythoa tuberculosa (Esper, 1805) | |
Palythoa tuberculosa, also known as the pillow zoanthid, or rubbery zoanthid, is a species of cnidarian in the family Sphenopidae.[1][2][3][4] This species is commonly found in shallow tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including Hawai'i, where it plays a role in reef ecosystems by forming encrusting colonies on rocky surfaces.[3][4][5]
Like other zoanthids, Palythoa tuberculosa lacks a hard skeleton and consists of small polyps embedded in a thick, fleshy mat.[3] The polyps are short and immersed in the surrounding tissue, with tentacles that are typically retracted during the day and extended at night.[6] The colonies can vary in color, including shades of blue-gray, green, gray, brown, or pink.[3][4]
Distribution and habitat
Palythoa tuberculosa is widely distributed across the Indo-Pacific, including regions such as Hawai'i, Japan, and the Great Barrier Reef.[7] It inhabits a range of environments, from exposed rocky coastlines with heavy wave action to sandy reef flats where colonies become encrusted with sand.[3] In areas with steep, sediment-free surfaces, colonies tend to grow larger and remain free of sand, while in more sheltered habitats, smaller colonies develop with sand covering their surface.[3]
