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Omelette leathery soft coral

Sarcophyton spp.

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Fun Facts

Leathery soft corals can shed their skin, preventing the growth of algae, bacteria and sediment build-up on them.

Species Type:

Corals, Invertebrates

Common Name(s):

Omelette leathery soft coral

Size:

Leathery soft corals can reach up to 24 inches (60 centimeters) in diameter.

Diet:

Using their polyps, leathery soft corals filter 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 Indian and Pacific Oceans and the Red Sea, leathery soft corals can be found at the edges of reefs and in lagoons.

Details:

Leathery soft corals can range in color from pink, yellow and brown to blue and green. They grow mushroom-shaped polyps and form large individual mounds.