Description

Also known as Bubble Coral, Grape Coral, Lichtenstein Bubble Coral, Octopus Coral, Pearl Bubble Coral, Pearl Coral, Poor Mans Bubble Coral, Tipped Bubble Coral, Tipped Bubblegum Coral.

Found in murky waters, under overhangs, and over deep walls, of coral and rocky reefs.
The bubble tentacles are extended during the day, and hidden slightly by the longer tentacles when feeding during the night.
They feed nocturnally on plankton.
Length - 17cm
Depth - 0-40m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Stony corals have hard stony skeletons, their polyps have six tentacles or are made up of multiples of six. These are usually nocturnal, however if the sky's are overcast, then many will feed during the day.
Generally the more robust corals life on exposed areas, while the smaller corals live in sheltered lagoons or deeper waters.
Stony corals are reef building corals and embedded in their flesh are thousands of minute single-celled marine plants called zooxanthellae which accounts for their colour.
These corals support a huge diversity of life, their main predator being the crown-of-thorns sea star. (edit) Ref: http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/physogyra-lichtensteini/