Litophyton arboreum

(Forskål, 1775)

Vernacular names
English : Broccoli coral
French : Corail brocoli

Classification
Class : Anthozoa
Order : Malacalcyonacea
Family : Nephtheidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Tree-shaped soft coral reaching a height of 80 cm. Body composed of a main trunk and several branches with clumps of polyps on extremities. Global coloration is beige-yellow to dirty white with polyp clumps sometimes pink or darker.

Range and habitat
Indo-Pacific region, from Red Sea and Eastern Africa to western Pacific, around Hawaii. Occurs in coral reefs amongst stony corals, down to around 100 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species is globally common where suitable habitat remains.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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