Species Type:
Corals, Invertebrates
Common Name(s):
Lacy lettuce-leaf coral
Size:
Lacy lettuce-leaf coral can grow up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) across.
Diet:
Using their polyps, lacy lettuce-leaf corals absorb organic compounds and small marine organisms from the water in their environment. They also have a special algae—called zooxanthellae– in their tissues that photosynthesize the sun's rays into energy/food.
Range & Habitat:
In the West-Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, lacy lettuce-leaf corals can be found in caves, rocky walls, deep coral slopes and crevices.
Details:
Lacy lettuce-leaf corals strongly resemble a head of lettuce with wavy, plate-like extensions growing from a single base. Despite their delicate appearance, their structure helps them resist strong currents.They can range in color from sandy brown to green and pink. Unlike many shallow-water corals, these corals can survive in low-light conditions by efficiently utilizing available sunlight.