Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Black sea rod
Size:
Black sea rod colonies can reach a height of 14 inches (35 centimeters).
Diet:
Using its polyp tentacles, black sea rods 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 Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and western Atlantic Ocean, Black sea rods are commonly found in shallow reef communities.
Details:
Black sea rods are colonial soft corals with short, branching structures that can range in color from black and purple to green and yellow. Their branches are covered with tiny white polyps that filter feed on plankton and other small particles in the water.