Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Yellow sea whip
Size:
On average, yellow sea whip colonies reach 12 inches (30 centimeters) tall.
Diet:
Using its polyp tentacles, Yellow sea whips catch and eat smaller marine organisms that drift by. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
In the Caribbean Sea, western Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, yellow sea whips can be found in coastal shallow patch reefs.
Details:
Yellow sea whips range in color from yellow and green to orange and purple. This coral grows stiff lateral branches from a single base. Polyps are lighter in color and look like tiny hairs on their branches.