Bristle Coral

Galaxea fascicularis

Also known as: Colonial Stony Coral, Flower Coral, Fluorescence Grass Coral, Forest Green Galaxea Coral, Galaxea Coral, Galaxy Coral, Green Star Coral, Octopus Coral, Tooth Coral, Spiky Coral, Starburst Coral

ALSO KNOWN AS

Colonial Stony Coral
Flower Coral
Fluorescence Grass Coral
Forest Green Galaxea Coral
Galaxea Coral
Galaxy Coral
Green Star Coral
Octopus Coral
Tooth Coral
Spiky Coral
Starburst Coral

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024

Add a photo

Bristle Coral adult, photographed at Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives — @fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 6

Overview

Found with tentacles extended during the day, over protected coral reef slopes of inshore fringing reefs. Colonies are usually low growing, cushion-shaped, sometimes irregular.
Corallites of mixed size, tentacles and septa of contrasting colours.

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.