Description

Also known as Brain Trumpet Coral, Gold-tipped Coral, Gold-tipped Torch Coral, Grape Coral, Pom-Pom Coral, Torch Coral, Trumpet Coral, Whisker Coral.

Found in dome shaped colonies, with the polyps open day and night, on reef slopes of protected lagoons and fringing reefs. Colours vary from a mottled brownish green to greyish blue tentacles, with pink or white knob like tips.
This coral resembles the Stichodactyla mertensii.
They feed on plankton.
Length - 3cm
Depth - 0-40m
Widespread Indo-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/porites-cylindrica/