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
- diet
- Plankton, organic particles, and photosynthetic sugars from symbiotic zooxanthellae
- family
- Fungiidae
- threats
- Ocean warming, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and physical damage from anchors
- life Span
- Several decades to over a century
NT
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Listed as Near Threatened due to widespread reef degradation, coral bleaching events, and collection for the aquarium trade.
Never step on or move these corals, and maintain neutral buoyancy to avoid kicking up smothering sediment.- 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.