WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Octopus Coral

Galaxea astreata

Also known as: Crystal Coral, Flower Coral, Forest Green Galaxea Coral, Galaxea Coral, Galaxy Coral, Green Star Coral, Star Coral, Starburst Coral, Tooth Coral

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Gangehi, Maldives · March 20081 / 1
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Overview

Found in low growing colonies, over protected coral and rocky reefs. Tentacles rarely extended during the day. 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.

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How to identify

COLOURS
Body shape
flowers

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found in low growing colonies, over protected coral and rocky reefs.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. familyOculinidae
    2. genusGalaxea
    3. speciesGalaxea astreata (Lamarck, 1816)

    SourcesWoRMSCorals of the World