Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Candy cane coral
Size:
These corals can grow up to 16 feet (5 meters) across.
Diet:
Using their polyps, candy cane corals catch organic compounds and small marine organisms from their environment. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
Candy cane corals can be found in habitats with soft, sandy bottoms throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Details:
The common name “Candy cane coral” comes from the distinctive, striped pattern of their polyps, which resemble candy canes. Their polyps extend during the night to catch plankton and other food particles, retracting during the day to avoid excessive sunlight.