Diet

• Terrazoanthus patagonichus is a suspension-feeding zoantharian that captures small planktonic organisms and suspended organic particles with its tentacles.

• The polyps use nematocysts to immobilize suitable prey before transporting it to the mouth.

• Like other zoantharians, it may also obtain nutrients through associations with microorganisms living within its tissues, although the nutritional importance of these associations in this species is not well documented.

Range

• Terrazoanthus patagonichus is an eastern Pacific species recorded from the Pacific coast of South America and the tropical eastern Pacific.

Habitat

• Terrazoanthus patagonichus occurs on hard marine substrates, including rocks and shells.

• It has also been documented growing in association with hydroids and black corals, including Antipathes galapaguensis and Myriopathes panamensis.

• Colonies occur in shallow rocky-reef environments where water movement supplies suspended food.

• The species can occupy exposed hard surfaces as well as more sheltered reef structures.

Description

• Terrazoanthus patagonichus forms colonies of relatively small, cylindrical zoantharian polyps embedded in a common coenenchyme.

• Open polyps are approximately 4–12 mm in diameter and are generally less than 20 mm high.

• The tentacles are relatively numerous, with approximately 32–40 reported in eastern Pacific specimens.

• The tentacles are typically bright red and may have small, conspicuous white spots near their tips.

• The oral disc is generally dark red, while the column is yellowish to brownish and may be heavily encrusted with mineral particles.

• Large sand grains and other mineral particles can become incorporated into the coenenchyme and outer surfaces of the polyps, giving the colony a rough, encrusted appearance.