Species · GBIF taxon 2260627
Mushroom Coral
Fungia fungitesAlso known as Disk Coral, Plate Coral, Fungia Coral, Common Mushroom Coral
Mushroom corals are unique solitary animals that live unattached to the reef substrate as adults, resting freely on sandy or rubble bottoms. They can slowly crawl, flip themselves over if capsized by waves, and clear away smothering sediment by inflating their tissues with water. Their circular, disk-like skeletons feature prominent radiating ridges resembling the gills of a terrestrial mushroom.
MarineFree-livingReef-builder
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Zooplankton
- Microscopic organic particles
Predators
- Crown-of-thorns starfish
- Butterflyfish
- Parrotfish
ThreatsOcean warming, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and physical damage from anchors
HabitatsShallow tropical coral reefs, sandy lagoons, and reef flats
Life spanSeveral decades to over a century
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyFungiidae
- SpeciesFungia fungites
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- What to notice
- Recognizable as a single, large, circular or oval free-living polyp with sharp, radiating skeletal ridges.
- Support conservation
- Never step on or move these corals, and maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid kicking up smothering sediment.
Responsible observation
- Look for mobility: Watch for these corals on sandy patches between reefs where they can slowly crawl using water inflation.
- Observe at night: Look for extended feeding tentacles that emerge after dark to capture drifting plankton.
- Do not touch: Avoid handling to prevent damaging the delicate living tissue stretched over their sharp skeleton.
Image unavailableClose Relative Family Member Family Member
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.