Lemnalia Coral
Lemnalia cervicornis
Also known as: Branch Coral, Branching Coral, Broccoli Coral, Cauliflower Coral, Formosan Soft Coral, Kenya Tree Coral, Lemnalia Tree Coral, Soft Tree Coral
- Branch Coral
- Branching Coral
- Broccoli Coral
- Cauliflower Coral
- Formosan Soft Coral
- Kenya Tree Coral
- Lemnalia Tree Coral
- Soft Tree Coral
Overview
Found over reef flats and slopes of coral and rocky reefs. These tree like soft corals have smooth slender stalks and the flowers cannot withdraw into the stalks.
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 · 1
Found over reef flats and slopes of coral and rocky reefs.
Adult photos 1
Discussion
No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.
Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumCnidaria
- classOctocorallia
- orderMalacalcyonacea
- familyLemnaliidae
- genusLemnalia
- speciesLemnalia cervicornis (May, 1898)
SourcesWoRMS
More in the family
Malacalcyonacea
Bladed Leather Coral
Lobophytum
3 photos
Brick-red Sponge
Clathria
1 photo
Carnation Tree Coral
Dendronephthya
12 photos
Cave Fan Coral
Melithaea
3 photos
Cherry Blossom Coral
Siphonogorgia godeffroyi
9 photos
Compact Leather Coral
Lobophytum compactum
3 photos
Elephant Ear Coral
Sarcophyton trocheliophorum
9 photos
Finger-lobed Leather Coral
Lobophytum
7 photos
Finger-tip Cladiella
Cladiella
1 photo
Flower Soft Coral
Anthelia glauca
3 photos
Flower Tree Coral
Scleronephthya
19 photos
Forked Sea Feather
Antillogorgia bipinnata
1 photo