Mushroom leather coral (Sarcophyton sp.) on a coral reef wall. The individual polyps of this soft coral are seen extending tentacles (white) into the

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Mushroom leather coral (Sarcophyton sp.) on a coral reef wall. The individual polyps of this soft coral are seen extending tentacles (white) into the water. In this way they trap the plankton which forms the basis of their diet. Coral polyps produce tough structures around their colonies for protection and support. Photographed in Layang Layang, Malaysia.

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Size: 4902px × 3545px
Photo credit: © MATTHEW OLDFIELD/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, cnidarian, coelenterate, coral, feeding, invertebrate, invertebrates, layang, leather, malaysian, marine, mushroom, nature, ocean, polyps, sarcophyton, sea, soft, sp., underwater, wildlife, zoology