Description

Also known as Anchor Coral, Branching Anchor Coral, Branching Bicolor Hammer Coral, Branching Frogspawn Coral, Branching Hammer Coral, Frogspawn Coral, Hammer Coral, Hammer Euphyllia.

Found on protected coral and rocky reefs, in both shallow and deeper waters. Colours vary green, brown, with a paler edge, resembles a bean shape. Uncommon.
They feed on detritus and zooplankton.
Length - 4cm
Depth - 0-40m
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: https://www.sealifebase.ca/summary/Euphyllia-paraancora.html