 : Plexauridae
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Taxonomy: Alcyonacea:
Plexauridae
(Octocorals)
Body Form: The Plexaura grow as stalks with a bushy appearance and are generally purple, gray, or brown. They have retractile polyps.
Diet: The octocorals are generally polytrophic - getting nutrition from zooxanthellae (algae) in their tissues, nutrient uptake from the seawater, and feeding on microplankton.
Care Level: easy
Natural History: The Alcyonacea (one of the octocorals) include the leather corals, soft corals, map polyps, and gorgonians. Nearly all members live attached to a solid substrate by attachment via a holdfast. As a group they do not produce an aragonite skeleton but instead produce a protein and calcite that together cements the body together. Lacking penetrating nematocysts, these corals feed on tiny prey - bacteria, rotifers, and algae cells - that are suspended in the water column. They are found in areas without high wave action. Some species produce exotoxins that may affect the growth of other stony coral competitors. |
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