Palythoa

Palythoa
Palythoa grandis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa
Subclass: Hexacorallia
Order: Zoantharia
Family: Sphenopidae
Genus: Palythoa
Lamouroux, 1816

Palythoa is a genus of soft coral, anthozoans in the order Zoantharia. [1][2]

Description

The polyps of Palythoa are partially embedded in an encrusting mat of tissue (coenenchyme) covering the substrate on which the colony grows. The individual polyps have flattened oral discs surrounded by a fringe of tentacles. The tentacles' shape and size can vary considerably between species, and even between colonies of the same species. Their colors are also highly variable, with relatively dull shades like cream, coffee, white, brown, or yellow, being the most common. Fluorescent colored colonies also exist, but these are more rare.[3][4]

Palytoxin

Palytoxin is a highly toxic organic compound produced by many species of Palythoa, as well as other members of the zoanthid family, and other marine invertebrates. The substance was first isolated from the seaweed-like "limu-make-o-Hana" ("Seaweed of Death from Hana") in 1971 in Hawaii. Scientific investigation of the limu-make-o-Hana found it to be a colonial cnidarian, which was classified as a zoanthid and named Palythoa toxica. Small quantities of the toxins these corals produce can be fatal should it be ingested or enter the blood stream.

The presence of this toxin is of significance to Aquarists who keep Reef aquariums, as Palythoa and related zoanthids are commonly kept as decorative specimens in marine aquaria. Aquarists have reported symptoms consistent with palytoxin poisoning prior to having exposure to zoanthids suspected to contain the toxin. One report involved an aquarist being accidentally poisoned through skin injuries after handling zoanthids[5] Another report involved an aquarium hobbyist in Virginia who experienced a severe respiratory reaction after trying to eradicate colonies of brown zoanthids (suspected to be Palythoa) from rocks in their aquarium.[6] A 2010 study found that a single specimen of Palythoa from a sample of fifteen colonies purchased from three aquarium stores in the Washington D.C. area contained high levels of palytoxin, indicating that toxic individuals are present in captive propagation.[7]

While poisoning events have occurred, they are exceedingly rare, and many reef aquarists have kept Palythoa without any adverse reactions to their coral. Generally it is considered proper practice to always wear appropriate protective gloves when reaching into aquaria and handling invertebrates which are suspected to be toxic.[8]

Protopalythoa

Protopalythoa is a genus once thought to be related to, but separate from, the genus Palythoa. The taxonomy of these genera is currently uncertain, and Protopalythoa species may actually be members of Palythoa. [9][10]

Species

References

  1. ↑ Reimer, J. (2014). Palythoa Lamouroux, 1816. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=205785 on 2014-11-30
  2. ↑ Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2014. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Palythoa/classification/
  3. ↑ "Moon Polyps". Animal-World. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Sprung, Julian. "Aquarium Invertebrates: Zoanthids: Polyps As Cute As A Button". Advanced Aquarist. Pomacanthus Publications, LLC. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Katrin Hoffmann, Maren Hermanns-Clausen, Claus Buhl, Markus W. Büchler, Peter Schemmer, Dietrich Mebs and Silke Kauferstein (2008) A case of palytoxin poisoning due to contact with zoanthid corals through a skin injury. Toxicon 51, no. 8: 1535-1537.
  6. ↑ Longo-White, Adrienne (7 April 2011). "Palythoa Toxica Poisoning - One Reefkeeper's Personal Experience With Palytoxin Poisoning". Advanced Aquarist. Pomacanthus Publications, LLC. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Deeds JR, Handy SM, White KD, Reimer JD (2011) Palytoxin Found in Palythoa sp. Zoanthids (Anthozoa, Hexacorallia) Sold in the Home Aquarium Trade. PLoS ONE 6(4): e18235. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0018235
  8. ↑ Nicholas Violand Aquarium Science: Palytoxin and You, Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine
  9. ↑ Reimer, James Davis, Shusuke Ono, Kiyotaka Takishita, Junzo Tsukahara, and Tadashi Maruyama. "Molecular Evidence Suggesting Species in the Zoanthid Genera Palythoa and Protopalythoa (Anthozoa: Hexacorallia) Are Congeneric." Zoological Science 23.1 (2006): 87-94. Web.
  10. ↑ Reimer, J. (2014). Protopalythoa Verrill, 1900. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=100795 on 2014-12-03