anthozoan

an·tho·zo·an  (nth-zn)

n.

Any of a class (Anthozoa) of marine organisms, such as the corals and sea anemones, that have radial segments and grow singly or in colonies.

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antho·zoan, antho·zoic (-zk) adj.

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anthozoan [ˌænθəˈzəʊən]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any of the solitary or colonial sessile marine coelenterates of the class Anthozoa, including the corals, sea anemones, and sea pens, in which the body is in the form of a polyp

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) Also actinozoan of or relating to the class Anthozoa

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

anthozoan - sessile marine coelenterates including solitary and colonial polyps; the medusoid phase is entirely suppressed actinozoan cnidarian, coelenterate - radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms Actinozoa, Anthozoa, class Actinozoa, class Anthozoa - a large class of sedentary marine coelenterates that includes sea anemones and corals; the medusoid phase is entirely suppressed sea anemone, anemone - marine polyps that resemble flowers but have oral rings of tentacles; differ from corals in forming no hard skeleton sea pen - fleshy featherlike warm-water colonies coral - marine colonial polyp characterized by a calcareous skeleton; masses in a variety of shapes often forming reefs