Artic Green Zoa Protopalythoa

Artic Green Zoa Protopalythoa

Artic Green Zoas are in fact a Protopalythoa and are similar to the common button polyp. They are found  throughout the Indo-Pacific and belong to the family Zoanthidae. They reproduce asexually, which means that individual polyps can divide and create new colonies. This process is known as budding.

Protopalythoa

Protopalythoa or protopalys, are sometimes grouped with Palythoa. However, protopalys have polyps on the ends of stalks instead of embedded in the mat. Their bases are connected by the coenenchyme or even by stolons, which incorporates sediment into the tissue just like palys. The texture of their coenenchyme also feels similar. They are found as solitary corals quite frequently.

If you see palys and protopalys side by side, you will notice that protopalys have a larger oral disc, longer tentacles, and sometimes a greater number of tentacles. Their oral discs may be quite colorful under blue actinic lighting, even fluorescing, but their coenenchyme is normally brown or green in color.

The photos shows the protopaly tentacles are obviously much longer than a paly's tentacles. When closed, you can see that the polyps are raised on tall stalks.

Difficulty: Easy

Lighting: Low to medium

Flow: Medium

Feeding: Relies on zooxanthellae and plankton

Aggressiveness: Peaceful

Supplements: Calcium, Magnesium, Iodine,