Zoanthid Research

Colorful, mysterious, and largely unstudied zoanthids are soft corals with a story to tell. We’re identifying and growing rare phenotypes in our aquaria to better understand their role in reef ecosystems.

Background

Zoanthids—colorful, hardy, and often overlooked—are an important part of Curaçao’s reef ecosystems. At our facility, we identify, culture, and study several rare and unique zoanthid phenotypes collected from local reefs. By growing them under controlled conditions, we can learn more about their resilience, reproduction, and role in reef recovery. This work helps preserve local genetic diversity while supporting long-term conservation strategies for soft corals and associated reef species.