Description
The Epizoanthus is an anemone of the phylum Cnidaria. The class Anthozoa, into which it falls, has the literal meaning of flower animals, hence the Epizoanthus scotinus is a flower animal. Most Anthozoa belong to the subclass zoantharia with about 1000 species of sea anemones and 2500 species of stony corals that have been identified. Typical of the subclass zoantharia, Epizoanthus scotinus is colonial. The bases of the polyps in each group are connected having a column with sand or other foreign material embedded in it. The anemone are abundant along sea coasts but zoantharia occur in deep water as well. At Race Rocks, we typically find this species in darkened protected spaces, such as along the base of a vertical rock or under a protecting overhang. They are not very common but when they do occur, they will occupy up to 900 square centimeters. They also occur in very shallow water at Weir Point in Pedder Bay
This short video taken by the divers shows a close up view, showing the density of the colony. They are a rather primitive looking, small anemone,.
Domain | Eukarya |
Kingdom | Animalae |
Phylum | Cnidaria |
Class | Anthozoa |
Subclass | Zoantharia |
Order | Zoanthinaria |
Genus | Epizoanthus |
Species | scotinus |
Common Name | Zooanthid anemone |
Return to the Race Rocks Taxonomy Index
This file is provided as part of a collaborative effort by the students, faculty, staff and volunteers of Lester B. Pearson College | Dec. 2001 | Sikhululekile Hlatshwayo, PC yr 27 |