Colonial anemone

Scientific name : Parazoanthus cf. gracilis

Small colonial anemone, polips are connected by living tissue. Polyps less than 1 cm high, brown or orange colour. It grows over the skeleton of the hydroid Plumularia habereri.
There are still many undescribed Zoantidea species. In our area we see 4 specie (Parazoanthus cf. gracilis sp. 1, Parazoanthus cf. gracilis sp. 2 , Zoanthus sp.), identified by the colour and by the chosen host.
The colony resembles a gorgonian (Octocorallia, Alcyonacea), but a close examination of the polyps reveals that these are the typical many tentacles polyps of the Esacorals. The gorgonians, Octocorals, have polyps always with 8 tentacles.

Associated organisms
It settles and grow on the skeleton of the hydroid Plumularia habereri (visible the plume like structures, among the Zoantidea polyps). Some authors say that the Parazoanthus can enhance the hydroid growth.