WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Membraneous Coral

Turbinaria mesenterina

Also known as: Bowl Coral, Colonial Coral, Colonial Stony Coral, Cup Coral, Disc Coral, Lettuce Coral, Pagoda Cup Coral, Scroll Coral, Turbinate Coral, Vase Coral

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 5
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Overview

Found in colonies, on upper reef slopes, in murky waters, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs. When in shallow waters that are exposed to strong light, these colonies have highly convoluted growth forms, and can look like giant cabbages. Colour varies, brown, green, and yellow, with a pale edge.

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.

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How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
plates

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 5
LIVES IN

Found in colonies, on upper reef slopes, in murky waters, of lagoons, coral and rocky reefs.

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Adult photos 5

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyDentrophylliidae
    2. genusTurbinaria
    3. speciesTurbinaria mesenterina (Lamarck, 1816)

    SourcesWoRMSCorals of the World