eastern cape scuba diving
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| Scientific name: |
Alcyonium sp |
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| Taxonomy |
| Phyulm |
Sub Phylum |
Class |
Sub Class |
Order |
Sub Order |
Family |
Sub Family |
Genus |
Species |
| Cnidaria |
Anthozoa |
Anthozoa |
Alcyonaria |
Alcyonacea |
Not Defined |
Alcyoniidae |
Not Defined |
Alcyonium |
Alcyonium sp |
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Short Description:
Flame corals are small soft corals. They consist of colonies of polyps and share a round "body". There is no internal skeleton present. Each polyp has eight small, feathery tentacles called pinnates. These pinnates contain stinging cells that they use to catch their prey. They are micro carnivores that feed on planktonic animals.The main "body" is yellowish in colour, with the stem of the polyp orange and the polyps are bright red.
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Identification
features: |
Ball shaped coral. Yellow base with polyps bright red. |
| Size: |
300mm in diameter. |
| Behaviour: |
Attached on reef with arm with extented polyps waving in current |
| Diet: |
Feeds on planktonic animals. |
| Distribution: |
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| Depth: |
10 - 40m |
| Habitat: |
Rocky reefs and subtidal zones |
| Reference: |
- A field guide to the Marine Animals of the Cape Peninsula
Georgina Jones
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| Similar Species: |
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Database Statistics
(Click on the links for more information) |
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eastern cape scuba diving
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