Pearl Bubble Coral

Appearance

Colonies are massive or form thick plates and meandroid in form with short, widely separated valleys. Tentacles are extended only at night and during the day the whole colony surface is covered with a mass of vesicles. Pale gray sometimes dull green in color.

Distribution

Indo-West Pacific: Japan to Australia and Red Sea to Fiji.

Status

Vulnerable.

Habitat

P. lichtensteini colonies are most common in shallow and turbid reef environments.

Reproduction

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.