Class Anthozoa  “Flower animals” Exclusively marine solitary or colonial Cnidarians in which the medusoid stage is completely absent and the polyp complex with a septate gastrovscular cavity.  Extraordinary range of forms and colors (Sea anemones, hard corals soft corals gorgonians and sea pens and pansies.)

Subclass Zooantharia*  (Hexacorallia)* Exclusively marine solitary or colonial polypoid (Polyps with 6 or more than eight tentacles and mesenteries, the latter typically in cycles of 6) Generally large and solitary

• Order Zooanthidea* (Small anemone-like anthozoans having one siphonoglyph and no skeleton but a stolonal network that may include sand and debris. Most tropical and common on reefs,  Solitary or colonial.  Palythoa*, Zoanthus*, Epizoanthus, Parazoanthus)
• Order Actiniaria* (Sea anemones.  Solitary (often large) anthozoans with no skeleton, with mesenteries in hexamerous cycles, and usually with two siphonoglyphs.  Halcampoides, Edwardsia, Metridium*, Ephiactis, Stichodactyla)
• Order Scleractinia* (Stony corals – closely related to the anemones.  Most are colonial anthozoans secreting a heavy, external, calcareous skeleton.  Hermatipic corals with algal endosymbionts.  Sclerosepta arranged in hexamerous cycles.  Fungia*, Acropora*, Porites*, Astrangia*, Oculina*)
• Order Corallimoraria* The coral anemones or mushroom corals (Solitary species with radially arranged tentacles.  Resemble true corals but lack a skeleton.  Corynactis, Rhodactis, Ricordia* Riccia*)

September 29, 2013