Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Have you ever seen coral move like this? 🪸
Meet the Acanthophyllia, sometimes known as the "meat coral" or even the "donut coral" 🍩!
These big, squishy corals are full of surprises, they move a lot more than you might think! All day long, they puff up, shrink down, and change shape. Every little wiggle helps them catch food and get comfy in their home. Time-lapse videos are the best way to catch their moves in action!
Like lots of corals, Acanthophyllia gets most of its energy from tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live inside its tissues. But when it's hungry for a snack, it stretches out its feeding tentacles to grab zooplankton and other tasty treats floating by.
What makes this coral extra special? Unlike most corals you’ll see in Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs, which are made up of thousands of tiny polyps, Acanthophyllia is just one big polyp all on its own!
Come check these amazing corals up close on your next visit to the Aquarium! If you watch carefully, you might just catch them showing off their moves.
#Coral #Acanthophyllia #TimeLapse
Have you ever seen coral move like this? 🪸
Meet the Acanthophyllia, sometimes known as the "meat coral" or even the "donut coral" 🍩!
These big, squishy corals are full of surprises, they move a lot more than you might think! All day long, they puff up, shrink down, and change shape. Every little wiggle helps them catch food and get comfy in their home. Time-lapse videos are the best way to catch their moves in action!
Like lots of corals, Acanthophyllia gets most of its energy from tiny algae called zooxanthellae that live inside its tissues. But when it's hungry for a snack, it stretches out its feeding tentacles to grab zooplankton and other tasty treats floating by.
What makes this coral extra special? Unlike most corals you’ll see in Healthy Corals, Healthy Reefs, which are made up of thousands of tiny polyps, Acanthophyllia is just one big polyp all on its own!
Come check these amazing corals up close on your next visit to the Aquarium! If you watch carefully, you might just catch them showing off their moves.
#Coral #Acanthophyllia #TimeLapse
