The Anthozoa is that group of coelenterates (Cnidaria) that contains the sea anemones and corals. Typically they are attached to a substrate, have a columnar body with an opening at the top, and arms radiate around the opening. The name means flower animals, a reference to the floral appearance of their perennial polyp stage. Food, mostly small plankton but some species can catch fish, is captured by nematocysts on the arm, and pushed through the opening to be digested inside the body. Unlike other cnidarians, anthozoans do not have a medusa stage in their development. Instead, they release sperm and eggs that form a planula, which attaches to some substrate on which the cnidarian grows. Some anthozoans can also reproduce asexually through budding. The gastrovascular cavity that the mouth opens into is subdivided by a number of radiating partitions, or mesenteries. The gonads are also located within the cavity walls. Some species harbour photosynthetic dinoflagellates or zooxanthellae, in a symbiotic relationship; the reef building corals known as hermatypic corals rely on this symbiotic relationship particularly. The zooxanthellae benefit by having access to nitrogenous waste and carbon dioxide produced by the host or , and the cnidarian gains products of photosynthesis and an increased to deposit calcium carbonate. The association created coral reef systems, entirely new and rich ecosystems, the evolution of which reveals the property of emergence - the result is not simply a sum of the parts. Anemones and certain species of coral live in isolation, however most corals form colonies of genetically identical polyps; these polyps closely resemble anemonies in structure, although are generally considerably smaller. Stony coral live in all parts of the underwater world, but corals with symbionts occur in shallow waters around tropical islands and coasts. They provide a rich source of food and provide physical protection for shores. Corals are threatened by increasing acidification of the oceans.

Anthozoa (Chaetognatha (Arrow worms)) is prey of:
Dermasterias
Actinopterygii
Scaridae
Cheloniidae
Decapoda
Isopoda
Amphipoda
Pycnogonidae
Tanaidae
Asteroidea
Echinoidea
Gastropoda
Scaphopoda
Neoloricata
Priapula
Polychaeta
Ophiuroidea
Clupea harengus
Alosa pseudoharengus
Scomber
Actinonaias ellipsiformis
Tridonta arctica
Pollachius pollachius
Merluccius bilinearis
Urophycis regia
Urophycis tenuis
Urophycis chuss
Gadidae
Hemitripterus americanus
Leucoraja erinacea
Leucoraja ocellata
Amblyraja radiata
Scophthalmus aquosus
Lophius americanus
Odontoceti

Based on studies in:
USA: Alaska, Torch Bay (Littoral, Rocky shore)
USA: Washington, Cape Flattery (Littoral, Rocky shore)
Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands shelf (Reef)
USA, Northeastern US contintental shelf (Coastal)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Anthozoa (Chaetognatha (Arrow worms)) preys on:
plankton
detritus
phytoplankton
Calanus
Pteropods
Copepoda
Crangon
Mysidae

Based on studies in:
USA: Alaska, Torch Bay (Littoral, Rocky shore)
USA: Washington, Cape Flattery (Littoral, Rocky shore)
USA, Northeastern US contintental shelf (Coastal)

This list may not be complete but is based on published studies.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Anthozoa

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	1,923
Specimens with Sequences:	1,072
Specimens with Barcodes:	981
Public Records:	833
Species:	523
Species With Barcodes:	393

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