Heterocyathus

Heterocyathus is a genus of coral of the family Caryophylliidae.

==Species== Heterocyathus aequicostatus Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848 (type species) Subspecies Heterocyathus aequicostatus delicatus Sakakura, 1935 Subspecies Heterocyathus aequicostatus parasiticus Semper, 1872 Heterocyathus alternatus Verrill, 1865 Heterocyathus antoniae Reyes, Santodomingo & Cairns, 2009 Heterocyathus hemisphaericus Gray, 1849 Heterocyathus sulcatus (Verrill, 1866) Heterocyathus cochlea (Spengler, 1781) Heterocyathus eupsammides Gray, 1849 Heterocyathus hemisphericus Gray, 1849 Heterocyathus heterocostatus Harrison, 1911 Heterocyathus incrustans (Dennant, 1906) Heterocyathus japonicus (Verrill, 1866) Heterocyathus lamellosus (Verrill, 1865) Heterocyathus mai Cheng, 1971 Heterocyathus oblongatus Rehberg, 1892 Heterocyathus parasiticus Semper, 1872 Heterocyathus philippensis Semper, 1872 Heterocyathus philippinensis Semper, 1872 Heterocyathus pulchellus Rehberg, 1892 Heterocyathus roussaeanus Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1848 Heterocyathus rousseaui (Milne-Edwards & Haime, 1857) Heterocyathus woodmasoni Alcock, 1893 ==Ecology== 'Mobility of this genus is facultative which means they have the capacity to move around but not always will they exhibit it. Heterocyathus could have zooxanthellae in shallow water, however, they may live on without symbiotic algae at deeper depths. The Heterocyathus species is sometimes hermatypic or a hard coral primarily responsible for reef-building. In the case of Heterocyathus, reefs are made as the species produces layers of calcium carbonate beneath their bodies. They show epifaunal characteristics and hence are seen in deeper areas of water. They are microcarnivores feeding on tiny organisms. A species of hermit crabs, Diogenidae Heteropsammia, allows for the Heterocyathus the ability to roam around the seafloor.