Sponge Coral [Pseudosiderastrea tayamai]
Description
Sponge Coral, also known as Pseudosiderastrea tayamai, is a small polyp stony coral that inhabits warm, shallow waters in the Indo-Pacific region. These corals have a unique, sponge-like appearance, characterized by a hard, calcified exterior and numerous small, circular polyps. They grow in a compact, dome-shaped colony that can reach up to 10 cm in diameter and are typically brown or green in color. Sponge Corals are nocturnal, extending their polyps to feed at night.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, and Relatives
Cnidaria
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Sea Anemones and Corals
Anthozoa
|
| Order |
Stony Corals
Scleractinia
|
| Family |
Fungiidae
Fungiidae
|
| Genus |
Spiny Mushroom Coral
Herpolitha
|