Pipe-cleaner Black Coral

Scientific Name: Antipathes sp.
Species: Black Corals (Antipathidae)
Other names: Bushy Black Coral and Precious Black Coral

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Pipe-cleaner Black Coral

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in May 2008
Photographed at: Mirihi Island Resort - Maldives
Caption: No caption available
Liked 1 times (like this too)
View full size / more information

Pipe-cleaner Black Coral

Uploaded by: @fishx6 in May 2008
Photographed at: Mirihi - Maldives
Caption: No caption available
Liked 0 times (like this too)

Description

Also known as Bushy Black Coral and Precious Black Coral.

Found on coral and rocky reefs growing as a single bushy frond expanding to look like a giant pipe cleaner.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 30cm
Depth - 10-40m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

This species is host to the granulose black coral crab - Quadrella granulosa.

They are called Black Corals because the inner skeleton is black, over this they have a fleshy skin that varies in colour with the different corals.
The polyps have six tentacles which although cannot be retracted, may shrink if disturbed.
A number of other animals live in the branches, e.g. Pteria penquin (Winged pearl oyster), Lopha cristagalli (Cock\\\'s comb oyster), Periclimenes sp.(Black coral shrimp). (edit)