Palythoa caribaeorum (Zoanthaire Caribbean)

Brown-white colonies that form carpets that cover the substrate. Buccal discs are on top of each other when relaxed. Two crowns of short tentacles on the edges. Lives in shallow reefs, prefers areas with water movements. When disturbed, the tentacles curl inward, retract and form a dome -shaped mass.

Playthoa caribaeorum is an invertebrate of the Zoanthidae family, belonging to the Order of Anthozoa. He is also known as "Caribbean Sea Zoanthide".

This invertebrate is characterized by its cylindrical shape, with a central upper and radial tentacles in a circle around. Its color varies from white to yellow, passing through green and gray. Its size can reach up to 5 centimeters in length.

Palythoa caribaeorum is a lonely invertebrate, that is to say that he does not live in colony like other invertebrates. It feeds mainly on plankton and microscopic algae, which it captures thanks to its tentacles.

It is reproduced by fission, that is to say by dividing itself into two to form two identical individuals. This invertebrate is commonly found in the warm and shallow waters of the Caribbean, as well as in certain regions of the Pacific Ocean.