Coe. 38 / Coe. 12 Spongodes
Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Cnidaria
Class - Anthozoa
Subclass - Octocorallia
Order - Malacalcyonacea
Family -
Nephtheidae
Genus - Spongodes
Characters:
Colonies have encrusting or
laminar bases which may have rootlets. Plates have upward projecting ridges
developing into columns. Corallites are widely spaced and immersed. The
coenosteum has no elaborations. Verrucae commonly form on lower parts of colonies.
Colour:
Uniform dark brown, green or
grey.
Habitat:
Mostly high latitude reefs and rocky foreshores.
Feeding:
Spongodes corals have
developed several feeding strategies. Through a symbiotic relationship with
some marine algae, known as zooxanthellae, they receive the majority of their
nutrients. They also capture planktonic organisms and microscopic food
particles from the water column and can absorb dissolved organic matter.
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