Lobed Cactus Coral

Appearance

Colonies are large, usually dome-shaped. They are flabello-meandroid with closely compacted elongate valleys. Despite a robust appearance, large colonies readily break apart. Polyps have a thick fleshy mantle which obscures the underlying skeletal structure and thus this species appears to be a Symphyllia underwater. If the mantle is touched it retracts revealing the underlying growth-form, where valleys have no walls in common. The mantle is covered with elongate papillae that may resemble tentacles. Colour: Uniform dark grey-brown.

Naming

Also called Tooth Coral.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Japan to Australia and Indonesia to Papua New Guinea.

Status

Vulnerable.

Habitat

Most shallow reef environments.

Reproduction

Members of the class Anthozoa are either gonochoric or hermaphroditic. Mature gametes are shed into the coelenteron and spawned through the mouth. Life cycle: The zygote develops into a planktonic planula larva. Metamorphosis begins with early morphogenesis of tentacles, septa and pharynx before larval settlement on the aboral end