Description

Also known as Bush Coral, Octocoral, Pulse Coral, Pulsing Polyp Coral, Pumping Xenia, Soft Tree Coral, Waving Hand Coral.

Found growing in meadow like colonies, over coral and rocky reefs. They have 8 feathered tentacles, which open and close rhythmically up to 40 times per minute.
They feed on plankton.
Length - ?cm
Depth - 6-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific

Most soft corals have no true skeleton and so their bodies are flexible.
Some soft corals have spikes very similar to rose thorns which may help to protect against predators.
Soft corals are food and shelter to many marine animals, some of which hide in the branches and take on the colouration of these corals. (edit) Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulsating_xenid