Mushroom Coral

Superpower

One of the few corals that lives unattached and can slowly right itself if flipped.

At a glance

Size

typically 10 cm, up to 30 cm

Depth

1–25 m

Habitat

Sandy patches and reef slopes.

Diet

Symbiotic algae plus plankton caught with its tentacles.

Can I eat it?

No — this one is not eaten.

Safety

• Venomous1/10

  Mild sting, harmless to people.

Fun facts

• •Unlike most corals, it is a single large polyp, not a colony.
• •It lies loose on the seabed and can inflate to move a little.
• •If turned over, it can slowly flip itself back upright.