Faulkner's Coral (Tubastraea faulkneri)

Also known as Cup Coral, Daisy Coral, Faulkner's Soft Coral, Flower Coral, Golden Cup Coral, Orange Cup Coral, Orange Polyp Coral, Orange Sun Coral, Orange Sun Polyp, Orange Sunflower, Orange Tube Coral, Orange Yellow Sun Polyp, Rose Sun Coral, Sun Coral, Sun Polyps, Sunflower Coral, Sunflower Polyps, Turret Coral

Description

Also known as Cup Coral, Daisy Coral, Faulkner's Soft Coral, Flower Coral, Golden Cup Coral, Orange Cup Coral, Orange Polyp Coral, Orange Sun Coral, Orange Sun Polyp, Orange Sunflower, Orange Tube Coral, Orange Yellow Sun Polyp, Rose Sun Coral, Sun Coral, Sun Polyps, Sunflower Coral, Sunflower Polyps, Turret Coral.

Found in colonies, in caves, under ledges and overhangs, of coral and rocky reefs. The polyps expand in moderate current during late afternoon, in shaded areas, and at night.
They feed on zooplankton.
Width - 17cm
Depth - 10-20m
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: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tubastraea

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