Pulsating xenid
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| Pulsating Xenid | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Cnidaria |
| Class: | Anthozoa |
| Subclass: | Octocorallia |
| Order: | Alcyonacea |
| Suborder: | Alcyoniina |
| Family: | Xeniidae |
| Genus: | Heteroxenia |
| Species: | H. fuscescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Heteroxenia fuscescens (Ehrenberg, 1834)[1] |
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The Pulsating xenid (Heteroxenia fuscescens) is a soft coral with large, feathery pinnate tentacles forming a clump up to 60 centimetres (24 in) across. Its polyp stalks are approx 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long, pulsating rhythmically around 40 times/ minute although scientists don't know why. Some theories include creating a current, assisting feeding, respiration and helping to dispose of waste and detritus.
It contains zooxanthellae.[2]
It lives on hard bottoms of lagoons and bays, and slopes with little current, and occurs from the Red Sea to the Indian ocean.
[edit] In the aquarium
These corals are prized in the aquarium hobby for the majestic "pumping" and the ease of reproduction; however they do tend to grow like weeds in the right environment and can quickly cover a tank. In some captive environments they may stop pulsing for long periods of time with no other signs of stress and suddenly start pulsing again later on as if there was never a problem. This is probably due to instability in water conditions. Some hobbyists claim that the addition of iodide may help this species but there is only circumstantial evidence to suggest that. [3]
Heteroxenia are very closely related to other xenia species and take an expert eye to identify. Heteroxenia grow smaller tentacles between the larger tentacles in mature specimen.
[edit] References
- ^ van Ofwegen, L. (2010). "Heteroxenia fuscescens (Ehrenberg, 1834)". World Register of Marine Species. http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=210004. Retrieved 2011-12-19.
- ^ Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
- ^ http://www.reefcorner.com/SpecimenSheets/pulsating_xenia.htm
[edit] External links
- Heteroxenia fuscescens, video
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