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| hard corals text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Scleractinia > Family Fungiidae > Fungia species |
| Circular
mushroom hard coral Fungia sp.* Family Fungiidae updated Oct 11
Where seen? This saucer-shaped hard coral is sometimes seen on many of our Southern shores, on sandy shallow areas near living reefs. On some undisturbed shores, many individuals in various stages of development can be seen. Features: Skeleton 10-15cm in diameter, but tiny ones 1-2cm sometimes seen attached to hard surfaces. Overall shape flat, circular and convex disk somewhat like a frisbee or upside-down saucer. Upper surface with thin continuous lines radiating from the centre, in some, the lines have fine 'teeth'. Single slit-like mouth in the centre of the upper surface. Often has banded 'lips' around the mouth. Tentacles are short, fat, tapering, rather sparse and even when fully extended, don't obscure the skeleton. Tentacles may be extended both during the day and at night. The underside usually concave, some with radiating lines of short bumps. Large ones lie unattached, sometimes in groups of several individuals. Small ones are seen stuck to coral rubble often in clusters of several individuals. Colours seen include beige, brown, pink, blue, purplish, greenish. Some Fungia species may also be elongated and oval, rather than circular. Sometimes confused with the Sunflower mushroom hard coral (Heliofungia actiniformis) especially when the tentacles are retracted. The Sunflower mushroom hard coral also has a flat circular skeleton. However, it has long cylindrical white-tipped tentacles that when full extended, completely obscures the skeleton so that the coral resembles a sea anemone. Status and threats: Fungia fungites is listed as globally Near Threatened by the IUCN. |
 Raffles Lighthouse, Jul 06  Single slit-like mouth often with banded 'lips'.  Short tentacles. |
When they are large, they are not attached to the ground.
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 Underside somewhat concave. |
Circular mushroom hard corals on Singapore shores
 Sisters Island, Dec 03 |
 Small ones are attached to a hard surface. |
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 Sisters Island, Dec 05 |
 Splitting up into two? |
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 Underside |
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more
photos of circular mushroom corals on Singapore shores
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7
part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
northern shores
southern shores part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7
part 8 | part 9 | part 10 | part 11 | part 12 | part 13
*Species are difficult to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
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