Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of marine animal: An anthozoan is a member of a class of sea-dwelling invertebrates. They are characterized by having a cylindrical body with a mouth surrounded by tentacles.
   • A specific biological classification: In scientific terms, an anthozoan is a sessile (fixed in place) marine coelenterate (cnidarian). This group includes solitary and colonial polyps, and they lack a free-swimming medusa (jellyfish-like) stage in their life cycle.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The coral reef is built by tiny anthozoan polyps.
  • Sea anemones and corals are both examples of anthozoans.
  • Scientists studied the anthozoan to understand its symbiotic relationship with algae.

Advanced Usage

• In biological taxonomy: The term "anthozoan" is used to classify organisms within the class Anthozoa, distinguishing them from other cnidarians like jellyfish (Scyphozoa) and hydrozoans.
  • The phylogenetic study focused on the evolutionary history of anthozoan species.

Variants and Related Words

• Anthozoa (n): The scientific class name to which anthozoans belong.
  • Anthozoa is one of the major classes within the phylum Cnidaria.
• Actinozoan (n): An older, synonymous term for anthozoan, now less commonly used.

Synonyms

• Coral polyp (for colonial, reef-building types).
• Sea anemone (for solitary types).
• Cnidarian (a broader category that includes anthozoans).

Related Phrases

• Colonial anthozoan: Refers to anthozoans like corals that live in interconnected colonies.
  • The Great Barrier Reef is formed by colonial anthozoans.
• Solitary anthozoan: Refers to anthozoans like sea anemones that live independently.
  • The solitary anthozoan attached itself to the rocky substrate.

Noun

1. sessile marine coelenterates including solitary and colonial polyps; the medusoid phase is entirely suppressed