Acanthocyathus laterocristatus SOLD
System: Miocene.
Origin: southern Europe.
Measurements: 1.9 cm x 1.1 cm
Acanthocyathus is a genus of hard corals (order Scleractinia) belonging to the class Anthozoa (Anthozoa). It is characterized by being a solitary, azooxanthellate coral (it does not depend on symbiotic algae), typical of deep, cold waters.Â
Main features of Acanthocyathus:
- Solitary anthozoan: Acanthocyathus lives as a single polyp.
- Azooxanthellate: It does not harbor zooxanthellae in its tissues, so it does not depend on sunlight for energy. This allows it to live in aphotic areas (without light, deep areas).
- Skeletal structure:Â As a member of the Scleractinia (madreporaria), it secretes a calcareous skeleton (calcium carbonate).
- History and distribution:Â Fossils have been found demonstrating its presence in the Mediterranean since the Miocene, although it is currently found in deep waters.
- Symmetry: Â It has a structure of septa and tentacles in multiples of six (hexacoralary).Â
