Smooth Tree Coral
Litophyton
Also known as: Branching Leather Soft Coral, Broccoli Coral, Flower Tree Coral, Soft Tree Coral, Tree Coral
- Branching Leather Soft Coral
- Broccoli Coral
- Flower Tree Coral
- Soft Tree Coral
- Tree Coral
Overview
Found on reef flats and slopes, of fringing and patch reefs. Tree-like, with slender smooth branches, colour is usually cream.
Length - Spreading
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 · 8
Found on reef flats and slopes, of fringing and patch reefs.
Adult photos 8
Discussion
No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.
Deep dive
Taxonomy
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumCnidaria
- classOctocorallia
- orderMalacalcyonacea
- familyNephtheidae
- genusLitophyton Forskål, 1775
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