What's in a name?

[Chrisv.]

Hello! Could someone please explain the categories of named zoanthids and what qualifies a zoanthid for membership in a category?

For example, there are several zoanthids that use the stem "hornet" in their name. What makes these all hornets? When a person finds a new wild zoa and they decide to name it, what traits would make them end that name with the word "hornet"?

What other groups of zoas are there out there that share common root names?

 

[Hooz]

Hornets are a tough one. There are few main characteristics that make a Hornet a "true" Hornet. They should have alternating colored skirts and a bright, distinct ring around the mouth (mouth can be any color).

I would add that the "true", OG Hornets (Purple, Blue and Red) take it a bit further and the two colored skirts match the face color and ring color. Like this:

Solid blue face, bright yellow ring around the mouth, and blue and yellow alternating skirt. A true, OG Hornet.

It's gotten pretty out of control with Hornets, though. People tried to cash in on the name, and started naming zoas "Hornets" that were similar, but didn't meet the "full" (in some peoples' opinions) definition. There are more varieties of Hornet than I can count. Some are more Hornet-y than others.

As for other groups, some are based on where they were originally collected (Kraks), others are different color morphs of the same or similar zoas (Agaves).

The reality is that whoever gets the new, wild imports grown out, fragged and marketed first can name them whatever they want.

Right now there is a new Hornet in town that I've seen advertised as the "ACC Super Hornet" and a "CS Electric Hornet". From what I can tell in pictures, they're the same thing. Some wholesaler probably got a shipment of wild caughts in, a few resellers bought them, they didn't find a match in the existing named zoas and they each picked a new name based on the characteristics of the zoas. Who knows which will catch on but, in the end, just get the ones you like regardless of the name.