Blue Coral [Sympodium spongiosum]
Description
The Blue Coral, also known as Sympodium spongiosum, is a marine invertebrate species that belongs to the family Xeniidae. They are typically found in the Red Sea and in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. This soft coral species is known for its bright blue coloration and its peculiar sponge-like structure. The colonies form extensive, clumped, and bushy growths and can be blue, purple, or gray. They are photosynthetic, hosting symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae in their tissues.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Soft Corals
Alcyonacea
|
| Family |
Xeniidae
Xeniidae
|
| Genus |
Sympodium
Sympodium
|