Rhodactis
Rhodactis is a genus of coral belonging to the family Fungiidae, commonly known as mushroom corals. These corals are characterized by their distinctive mushroom-shaped appearance, with a broad, flat oral disc and a short, stalk-like column. They are found in a variety of habitats, including reefs, lagoons, and seagrass beds, in tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region.
Common Names
Common names for Rhodactis corals include:
- Mushroom coral
- Disk coral
- Plate coral
Characteristics
Rhodactis corals are characterized by the following features:
- Mushroom-shaped morphology: They possess a broad, flat oral disc with a short, stalk-like column.
- Solitary growth habit: They typically live as individual polyps, not forming colonies.
- Symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae: Like most reef-building corals, Rhodactis corals host symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, which provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis.
- Variety of colors: They come in a range of colors, including brown, green, orange, and red.
- Extensive oral disc: The oral disc can be quite large, sometimes exceeding 10 centimeters in diameter.
- Contractile tentacles: They have numerous tentacles that can be retracted into the oral disc.
Environments
Rhodactis corals are found in a variety of environments, including:
- Reefs: They can be found on both shallow and deeper reefs.
- Lagoons: They are commonly found in lagoons with clear, calm waters.
- Seagrass beds: Some species of Rhodactis can be found in seagrass beds.
- Moderate to high light levels: They need sufficient light for their symbiotic algae to photosynthesize.
- Moderate water currents: They require some water movement to deliver food and oxygen.
- Stable salinity: They are sensitive to changes in salinity.
They prefer environments with:
References
For more information about Rhodactis corals, you can consult these reliable sources: