Lobe Coral

Pukakana

A coral is composed of a colony of many polyps that live in symbiosis with zooxanthellae. This specie of coral grows slowly, about 0.3 in (8 mm) per year. It eats fine particles produced by the algae in symbiosis or prey captured by their nets made of mucus or paralyzed by their stinging cells. It is the primary builder of the reef. Sometimes it even builds monospecific reefs.