The Cape zoanthid (''Isozoanthus capensis'') is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

zoanthid Zoanthids ( order Zoantharia, also called Zoanthidea or Zoanthiniaria) are an order of cnidarians commonly found in coral reefs, the deep sea and many other marine environments around the world. These animals come in a variety of different coloni ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Parazoanthidae Parazoanthidae is a family of cnidarians. Genera include: * ''Antipathozoanthus'' Sinniger, Reimer & Pawlowski, 2010 * ''Bergia'' Duchassaing & Michelotti, 1860 * '' Bullagummizoanthus'' Sinniger, Ocaña & Baco, 2013 * '' Churabana'' gen. nov. * ...

.Branch, G.M., Branch, M.L, Griffiths, C.L. and Beckley, L.E. 2010. ''Two Oceans: a guide to the marine life of southern Africa''

Description

The Cape zoanthid is a small colonial, anemone-like anthozoan. It grows up to 0.5 cm across. It has an upright hollow columnar body with a tentacle-ringed mouth. It is orange to pink with a few spiky tentacles and a sand coated body column.Jones, Georgina. ''A field guide to the marine animals of the Cape Peninsula.'' SURG, Cape Town, 2008.

Distribution

It has so far been found only from the Cape Peninsula and to Port St Johns on the South African coast. It appears to be

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to this area, and lives in shallow water.

Ecology

This zoanthid is usually found in small colonies of around 20-50 individuals under overhangs. It feeds on plankton.

References

Isozoanthus Taxa named by Oskar Carlgren Animals described in 1905 {{Hexacorallia-stub