Mushroom Coral Information
The mushroom coral is a soft coral that makes its home in the deep sea. It consists of an individual animal called a single polyp and is an invertebrate, which means mushroom coral does not have a backbone. The mushroom coral is part of the animal kingdom and its scientific name is Anthomastus ritteri.
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Appearance
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Mushroom coral grows to be about 6 inches across and has 2 different appearances. With a short stem and a cap, it looks like a mushroom when it is closed up tight. It looks something like a flower when its tentacles are stretched out for feeding. At the end of the tentacles, there are poisonous stingers that catch tiny animal plankton as they drift by the mushroom coral. Mushroom coral can be one color or multicolored.
Location
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Mushroom coral grows attached to rocks. Adult mushroom corals are able to move. If they get turned over in a storm, they can turn themselves back to an upright position. Mushroom corals can grow in dense clusters.
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Geography
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Mushroom corals are abundant and diverse corals that live throughout the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. They are found at ocean depths of 700 to 4,050 feet.
Reproduction
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To reproduce, the mushroom coral simultaneously releases sperm and eggs. These join to form larvae that become new corals. Mushroom coral is one of a few organisms that can switch sexes from female to male and back again. Changing from male to female seems to be just a natural part of the growth of the mushroom coral. Some plants are able to do this, and even though corals may look something like plants, they belong to the animal kingdom.
Home Aquariums
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Mushroom corals are a good choice for the hobbyist with a home aquarium or reef tank. They are hardy and adjust well to life in an aquarium. They tend to grow best in low to moderate light, where the water movement is moderate. There does need to be rocks in the aquarium because these corals grow attached to rock. Changes in water temperature, pH or salinity can cause stress to the mushroom coral.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Jonathan Zander (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mushroom_Coral_Top_Macro_Digon3.jpg#filehistory)
