Open brain coral
Trachyphyllia geoffroyi
Where at Shedd?
Wild Reef
| Diet | Very small animals and plant-like organisms called zooplankton and phytoplankton and nourishment from photosynthesis with symbiotic zooxanthellae |
|---|---|
| Size | Colonies up to 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter while a single coral polyp may be up to 3 inches (8 cm) in length |
| Type | Corals & Anemones |
| Range | Red Sea, Indian and West-Central Pacific Oceans |
| Habitat | Sandy and muddy bottoms in sheltered reefs and lagoons |
Did you know?
- Often, it’s a formation of many teeny tiny animals working together. Each coral animal – or polyp – has its own mouth, tentacles, gut and sex cells.
- When our excess carbon dioxide enters the water, the ocean becomes more acidic. This harms protective skeleton growth in corals and shell growth in lobsters, crabs and other shellfish.
- Want to help corals in the wild? Joining your community to reduce the use of fossil fuels is one way to keep our excess carbon dioxide out of the ocean and support corals reefs for generations to come.