Scott & Jeanette Johnson, Kwajalein Unterwater
Info
Zoanthus kuroshio Reimer & Ono in Reimer, Ono, Iwama, Takishita, Tsukahara & Maruyama, 2006
Zoanthus kuroshio was scientifically described by Japan.
Zoanthus kuroshio has a pink fluorescent oral disc and brown tentacles and is found on certain parts of the Taiwanese and Japanese coasts. We took the color description from a scientific paper. The photos posted differ somewhat from this description, but should show Zoanthus kuroshio with sufficient certainty. A scientific source shows that some variability in coloring is possible.
Zodiac anemone is a rich source of biologically active alkaloids.
While each individual zoanthid grows to about 1.5cm in size, sprawling colonies of these crust anemones reach immense proportions. In its range, Zoanthus kuroshio is a common species in Kwajalein, forming large colonies, each several square meters in area, on the tops of the lagoon and seaward reefs.
Notably, the fertile colonies of Zoanthus kuroshio are not only hermaphrodites, but also include exclusively male and female colonies. Four sex types have been identified in Zoanthus kuroshio: male, female, functional protogynous hermaphrodites, and unclassified sterile colonies.
The first spawn of the year occurs one day after the new moon. The colonies release the gametes into the current 3.5-4 hours after sunset. Moon phase and time after sunset are thought to affect spawn timing in Zoanthus kuroshio.
Etymology. Named for the Black Current (kuroshio in Japanese) that flows northeastwardly along the Pacific Coast of Japan where this species is found.
Zoanthus kuroshio was scientifically described by Japan.
Zoanthus kuroshio has a pink fluorescent oral disc and brown tentacles and is found on certain parts of the Taiwanese and Japanese coasts. We took the color description from a scientific paper. The photos posted differ somewhat from this description, but should show Zoanthus kuroshio with sufficient certainty. A scientific source shows that some variability in coloring is possible.
Zodiac anemone is a rich source of biologically active alkaloids.
While each individual zoanthid grows to about 1.5cm in size, sprawling colonies of these crust anemones reach immense proportions. In its range, Zoanthus kuroshio is a common species in Kwajalein, forming large colonies, each several square meters in area, on the tops of the lagoon and seaward reefs.
Notably, the fertile colonies of Zoanthus kuroshio are not only hermaphrodites, but also include exclusively male and female colonies. Four sex types have been identified in Zoanthus kuroshio: male, female, functional protogynous hermaphrodites, and unclassified sterile colonies.
The first spawn of the year occurs one day after the new moon. The colonies release the gametes into the current 3.5-4 hours after sunset. Moon phase and time after sunset are thought to affect spawn timing in Zoanthus kuroshio.
Etymology. Named for the Black Current (kuroshio in Japanese) that flows northeastwardly along the Pacific Coast of Japan where this species is found.
