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Antipathes

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Antipathes
Antipathes dichotoma from Bali, Indonesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Hexacorallia
Order: Antipatharia
Family: Antipathidae
Genus: Antipathes
Pallas, 1776
Species

See Species section

Synonyms
  • Arachnopathes Milne Edwards H., 1857

Antipathes is a genus of coral in the order Antipatharia, composed of black coral (so named for its black skeleton).[1] Distinct features vary greatly within this genus: it contains symmetrically aligned as well as irregularly shaped corals, a range of different colors, and colonies that can be either sparsely branched or closely packed. polyps for these corals have six tentacles that are each lined with stinging cells.[2] Unlike their reef-building cousins, these coral lack photosynthesizing algae and are not restricted to the lighter surface regions. They prefer to live in deeper waters near currents so they can catch and eat passing zooplankton.[3]

Species

[edit]

Species included in this genus are:[4]

Colony of zoanthid Antipathozoanthus hickmani covering an Antipathes galapagensis just off Pinzón Island

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Marine Life Profile: Black Coral" (PDF). University of Hawaii- Manoa. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-11. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  2. ^ Parker, N.R.; Mladenov, P.V.; Grange, K.R. (1997). "Reproductive biology of the antipatherian black coral Antipathes fiordensis in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand". Marine Biology. 130: 11–22. doi:10.1007/s002270050220. S2CID 85999468.
  3. ^ "Antipathes — Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2012-08-08.
  4. ^ Jacob van der Land (2004). "Antipathes Pallas, 1766". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 2012-08-08.


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