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Discosoma

Genus of corals From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Discosoma
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Discosoma is a genus of cnidarians in the order Corallimorpharia. Common names for the genus include mushroom anemone, disc anemone and elephant ear mushroom.[4]

Quick facts Scientific classification, Species ...
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Discosoma nummiforme

Most species are disc-shaped and produce large amounts of mucus.[4] There are a great variety of colors, including metallic and fluorescent shades and striped and spotted patterns.[4] Discosoma gather food particles from the water. Some species absorb nutrients produced by zooxanthellae, photosynthetic dinoflagellates living in their tissues in a symbiotic relationship.[4]

Some species are sold commercially in the aquarium trade.[4]

The red fluorescent protein dTomato which has applications in molecular biology as a reporter protein was first derived from the species.[5]

There are approximately 11 recognized species:[6]

  • Discosoma album
  • Discosoma carlgreni Forked-tentacle corallimorpharian
  • Discosoma dawydoffi
  • Discosoma fowleri
  • Discosoma fungiforme
  • Discosoma molle
  • Discosoma neglecta Umbrella corallimorpharian
  • Discosoma nummiforme
  • Discosoma rubraoris
  • Discosoma unguja
  • Discosoma viridescens
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References

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