Oligohymenophorea |
Sessilida |
Zoothamniidae
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Benthic; brackish. Tropical
Central Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Red Sea.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm Max length : 1.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 87022); common length : 0.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 87023)
Average length is 0.3 to 0.5 cm (Ref. 87023). The surface of this species is known to be a favorable habitat for sulfide-oxidizing bacteria (Ref. 87023). It inhabits mangrove peat walls in groups of more than 100 colonies, with an estimated group life of approximately 20 days, mainly in areas where microbial surface mat has been destroyed (Ref. 87022). It is found attached to a substrate, particularly in subtidal areas where sulfide sources are present. Large colonies are observed on garbage bags and rotting vegetables found in mangrove ponds. Generally is occupies ephemeral habitats where it is patchily distributed (Ref. 85814). The peritrich ciliate is a filter feeder, and its microzooids possess a fully developed oral ciliature and cytopharynx (Ref. 87023).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Members of the phylum Ciliophora reproduce either through conjugation wherein exchange of genes occur or by budding.
Rinke, C., S. Schmitz-Esser, K. Stoecker, A.D. Nussbaumer, D.A. Molna´r, K. Vanura, M. Wagner, M. Horn, J.A. Ott and M. Bright 2006 Candidatus Thiobios zoothamnicoli, an ectosymbiotic bacterium covering the giant marine ciliate Zoothamnium niveum. Applied and Environmental Biology 27(3):2014-2021. (Ref. 87022)
IUCN Red List Status
(Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
CITES status (Ref. 108899)
Not Evaluated
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
| FishSource |
Tools
More information
Trophic EcologyFood items (preys)
Diet composition
Food consumption
Predators
Population dynamicsGrowth
Max. ages / sizes
Length-weight rel.
Length-length rel.
Length-frequencies
Mass conversion
Abundance
Life cycleReproductionMaturityFecunditySpawningEggsEgg developmentLarvae PhysiologyOxygen consumption
Human RelatedStamps, coins, misc.
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Fishing Vulnerability
Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
