Feather Coral
Polyphyllia talpina
The Slipper Coral Polyphillia talpina, true to its name, has an elongated shape with shaggy, mop-like tentacles. All the corals in the Polyphyllia genus have equally descriptive names due to their intriguing appearance. Polyphyllia corals are flat, or arched when viewed from the side, and can form several shapes. The Slipper Coral P. talpina has an elongated or tongue shape. They have many mouths across their surface (called polystomatous) with the larger mouths sometimes aligned with the central axis or furrow. The tentacles are usually horn-shaped and about two centimeters (.75 inches) long. The polyps are extended during the day and when fully extended, a carpet of tentacles is all that is visible.