Antler Coral (Pectinia alcicornis)

Also known as Antler Lettuce Coral, Carnation Coral, Hexacoral, Maze Coral, Pectinia Coral, Spiny Cup Chalice Coral

Description

Also known as Antler Lettuce Coral, Carnation Coral, Hexacoral, Maze Coral, Pectinia Coral, Spiny Cup Chalice Coral.

Found in colonies, over surge zones of coral and rocky reefs.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 5-25m
Widespread Western-Central 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. Ref: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/132956/54165929#habitat-ecology

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