Palys and Zoas

Ok I'm sure this has been covered before but I just can't find too much info.

What IS the difference between palys and zoas?
As soon as I can get pics of what I have I'll post them up.
I've been under the impression that I had zoas but the more I read about the speckling mine have the more I think they may be palys. Speckling, not lesions, raised bumps or anything pox style. They're fully open and super bright so I have no idea.
Is speckling more common on one than the other?

Thanks for any help

Sorry for stealing this pic This is the closest pic I could find that looks like mine. Mine had a yellow mouth, purple disk and more red in the tentacles (bright green at the very tips) AND tiny white speckles.

The speckles on my zoa or paly are only on the face, not on the stalk.

 

I have read that palys don't leave a stolon or mat like like zoos do, but not all zoos I have seen leave a stolon. Some say palys have a larger polyp with longer "tentacles" or what some call skirt.
Zoos, palys protopalythoa and parazoathus are all pretty tough for the hobbyist to differentiate. Plus I don't really think most people really need to know whether they have palys or zoos, they just like the way they look.

Happy reefing!

 

In the Zoanthidae Family, there are several Genera (plural for Genus). Within the various Genus, there are numerous Species

Zoanthus,
Palythoa,
Protopalythoa,
Isaurus,
Sphenopus,
Parazoanthus,
Epizoanthus,
Acrozoanthus

Palythoa are often called sea mats because they are all attached at the "foot". Protopalythoa look just like Palythoa but their "feet" are not attached. Both palythoa and protopalythoa will use sand and other trash they find around the reef in their bodies.

Isaurus are commonly called snake corals

Parazoanthus are most commonly in the hobby called yellow polyps. My favorites species of parazoanthus are white polyps.....really cool looking

Epizoanthus are usually nuked by hobbyists who are convinced that they have a patch of aiptasia

Acrozoanthus are basically zoanthus on a stick.

Just about everything else is a zoanthus like your picture above

 

Any info on speckles? As I said, they aren't raised, lumpy or pox looking and are not located anywhere on the body of the coral, just on the "face."

I really wish I could get some pics up guys. If I could I would

 

stripes, speckles, and striations are just some variations within the species usually.

If they are raised, you could have zoanthid pox but they aren't raised.

 

Awesome, thanks!! I've been keeping an eye on them closely just to make sure but no change thus far. I've put on a glove and tried to feel the face a bit just to make sure, definitely not raised

 

white polyps..... ??

Would like to see a picture of tho's, would look good next to my yellows.. !!

Larry

 

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2008Q1/20070722-candy-cane-sponge.jpg

White parazoanthus grow on finger sponges

 

That's EXACTLY what I was thinking..........:

OK, maybe not.

Thanks for the education dude. I was wondering the same thing a few weeks ago.;D