White Epizoanthid, Epizoanthus Sp.

White Epizoanthid, Epizoanthus Sp. Underwater photographs taken in Zihuantanejo Bay, Guerrero, February 2020. Photographs courtesy of Ron Woheau, Zihuantanejo, Guerrero.

Phylogeny: The White Epizoanthid, Epizoanthus Sp., is a member of the Epizoanthidae Family of Epizoanthids. The genus Epizoanthus is one of  two genera in this family. Epizoanthus is a fairly large genus containing eighty-five species. The White Epizoanthid is known in Mexico as epizoántido blanco. The White Epizoanthid is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, growth, longevity, movement patterns, diet, habitat use, and reproduction.

Morphology:  White Epizoanthids are colonial, anemone-like animals. They have a double ring of tentacles and a leathery epidermis on their column.  They are normally found with their outer surface of their column encrusted with mud or sand. They have disks and tentacles that are a transparent white color. They have polyps that are about 2.5 cm (1.0 inch) in height.

Habitat and Distribution: The White Epizoanthid is found in colonies on rocks and attached to Gorgonians. They range from the shallow sub-tidal zone to depths exceeding 76 m (250 feet). In Mexican waters they are a resident of the Pacific Ocean.

Diet: White Epizoanthids are suspension feeders. They use their tentacles to capture zooplankton, such as amphipods or fish and invertebrate larva, from the surrounding water.

Predators: Information regarding predators of White Epizoanthids  has not been documented. Epizoanthids in general are eaten by fish, crabs, nudibranchs, and sea stars.

Reproduction: White Epizoanthids reproduce  both sexually and asexually. Asexual reproduction involves budding, where new polyps grow from existing ones. Sexual reproduction occurs when gametes are released into the water. The fertilized eggs become planktonic larva, which eventually settle and form new colonies.

Ecosystem Interactions: Information regarding ecosystem interactions of White Epizoanthids has not been documented. Epizoanthids in general provide shelter for fish and invertebrates.

Human Interactions: White Epizoanthids have very little direct impact on human activities. There is insufficient data to determine environmental risk factors for White Zoanthids.