WHATSTHATFISH
Corals & anemones

Slug-like Mushroom Coral

Herpolitha limax

Also known as: Creeping Stone Slug, Fungi Coral, Fungiid Coral, Limax Mole Coral, Mole Coral, Mushroom Coral, Slipper Coral, Slipper Mushroom Coral, Striate Boomerang Coral, Tongue Coral

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
Adult
@fishx6 · Mirihi Island Resort, Maldives · May 20081 / 2
01

Overview

Found on sandy bottoms, over coral and rocky reef tops and slopes, of lagoons and seaward reefs. Colour varies from brown, green, or yellow.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
blotches
Body shape
ridges

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-Pacific
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found on sandy bottoms, over coral and rocky reef tops and slopes, of lagoons and seaward reefs.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumCnidaria
    3. classHexacorallia
    4. orderScleractinia
    5. familyFungiidae
    6. genusHerpolitha
    7. speciesHerpolitha limax (Esper, 1792)

    SourcesWoRMSWikipedia

    06

    More in the family

    Stony Corals (Fungiidae)