Balloon Corallimorph (Amplexidiscus fenestrafer)

Also known as Bowl Anemone, Disc Anemone, Elephant Ear Anemone, Elephant's Ear Anemone, Giant Cup Mushroom Coral, Giant Flower Coral, Giant Mushroom Anemone, Large Elephant Ear Mushroom, True Elephant Ear

Description

Also known as Bowl Anemone, Disc Anemone, Elephant Ear Anemone, Elephant's Ear Anemone, Giant Cup Mushroom Coral, Giant Flower Coral, Giant Mushroom Anemone, Large Elephant Ear Mushroom, True Elephant Ear.

Found singly or in small colonies, over top reefs of coral and rocky reefs. Can be fully extended with short tentacles, showing or contracted into a bowl shape, with a smooth underside. Often found with corallimorph shrimp - Pliopontonia furtiva.
They feed on crustaceans, fish, and benthic invertebrates.
Length - 40cm
Depth - 3-25m
Widespread Indo-West Pacific

Corallimorphs are similar to sea anemones in structure, life style and structure, unlike corals they have no skeleton.
They can reproduce very quickly to dominate areas, often carpeting large areas of dead coral.
When disturbed they can send out stinging threads that will give a nasty sting!
Some species live in the open and are seen during the day, while others are only nocturnal.
They vary from drab to bright colours. (edit) Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amplexidiscus

0 comments

Leave a comment

Known Sightings / Photograph Locations

Share this: