Description

Also known as Crystal Coral, Flower Coral, Forest Green Galaxea Coral, Galaxea Coral, Galaxy Coral, Green Star Coral, Octopus Coral, Star Coral, Starburst Coral, Tooth Coral.

Found in low growing colonies, over protected coral and rocky reefs. Tentacles rarely extended during the day. Tentacles and septa of contrasting colours.
They feed on zooplankton.
Length - 200cm
Depth - 0-50m
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. Ref: http://www.coralsoftheworld.org/species_factsheets/species_factsheet_summary/galaxea-astreata/