Zoology Museum

Post Graduates and Research Department of Zoology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin 628 008 Tamil Nadu

Coe.55 Lobophytum(Devil’s Hand Coral)

 

Phylum: Cnidaria

Class: Octocorallia

Order: Alcyonacea

Family: Alcyoniidae

Genus: Lobophytum

 

Description

Lobophytum corals have a unique and distinctive appearance. Their polyps are lobed or finger-like, resembling the shape of a human hand or multiple hands extending from a central base. These lobes often have a textured or wrinkled surface and can come in various colors, including shades of brown, green, yellow, and tan. The coloration may vary depending on the species, the specific location within a reef, and environmental factors.Soft corals like Lobophytum are known for their flexibility, as they lack the rigid calcium carbonate skeleton found in hard corals. Instead, they have a soft and fleshy structure. Lobophytum corals are filter feeders, using their polyps to capture plankton and other small particles from the surrounding water.

IUCN Status: Not evaluated

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