 |
|
| corallimorphs text index | photo index |
| Phylum Cnidaria > Class Anthozoa > Subclass Zoantharia/Hexacorallia > Order Corallimorpharia |
| Frilled
corallimorph awaiting identification updated Aug 10 Where seen? This little animal with a delicate fringe around the edge of its disk-shaped body is sometimes encountered on our Southern shores, in coral rubble areas. Features: Each polyp about 2-4cm in diameter, usually in small groups of 5-10, sometimes many more. When submerged, the expanded polyps may be crowded next to one another so that each forms folded polygonal shapes. Short fine tentacles fringe the outer edge of the oral disk. On the disk itself, short, clusters of short branched tentacles are arranged in rows radiating from the mouth in the centre. The mouth is usually held upturned and is then quite prominent. The underside is smooth and brown. The animal can tuck its oral disk into the body column when it is exposed out of water. Seen in a wide range of colours: from pale to bright green to blue, also with brown tentacles. |
 Sentosa, Aug 04  Clusters of branched tentacles on the oral disk. |
 Cyrene Reef, Jul 10  Colour change prior to bleaching? |
 Pulau Berkas, May 10  Bleaching. |
 Prominent upturned mouth.  The oral disk is tucked in at low tide. |
Frilled corallimorphs on Singapore shores
 Cyrene Reef, Jun 08  |
 St. John's Island, Aug 05  |
 Labrador, May 06  |
 Sisters Island, Jan 06 |
 |
 |
 St. John's Island, Aug 07 |
 |
 |
more photos of frilled corallimorphs on Singapore shores
part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6
*Species are difficult
to positively identify without close examination.
On this website, the animals are grouped by external features for convenience
of display.
|
|