Elephant Ear Coral
Sarcophyton trocheliophorum
Also known as: Fleshy Soft Coral, Gray-green Soft Coral, Green Toadstool Coral, Leather Coral, Leather Toadstool, Mushroom Coral, Mushroom Leather Coral, Rough Leather Coral, Ruffled Leather Coral, Slimy Leather Coral, Toadstool Coral, Toadstool Leather Coral, Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral, Trough Coral
- Fleshy Soft Coral
- Gray-green Soft Coral
- Green Toadstool Coral
- Leather Coral
- Leather Toadstool
- Mushroom Coral
- Mushroom Leather Coral
- Rough Leather Coral
- Ruffled Leather Coral
- Slimy Leather Coral
- Toadstool Coral
- Toadstool Leather Coral
- Toadstool Mushroom Leather Coral
- Trough Coral
Overview
Found in colonies, growing over shallow reef tops, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs. They produce a toxin to stop other critters colonising their areas.
This coral has a smooth stalk and folded margins. The polyps are crowded on the surface and when retracted give a smooth lathery appearance.
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.
How to identify
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific
- Country only · 9
Found in colonies, growing over shallow reef tops, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs.
Adult photos 9
Discussion
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Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumCnidaria
- classOctocorallia
- orderMalacalcyonacea
- familySarcophytidae
- genusSarcophyton
- speciesSarcophyton trocheliophorum von Marenzeller, 1886
SourcesWoRMSSeaLifeBase
More in the family
Sarcophytidae
