The Pulsing Coral (Xenia sp.) is a soft marine (saltwater) coral in the Xeniidae family. It is also known as Pulse Coral. It is not a plant.
The Pulsing Coral resembles a mat-like mushroom with many-fingered arms. It uses its polyp arms to move water around it. This is called pulsatile motion. It is an octocoral because it has eight tentacles and eight mesenteries on their polyps. It can be white, yellow, blue, green, and brown.
It grows up to 20 centimetres (8 inches) across.
It is found in the waters of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. It prefers shallow reefs and lagoons. It is benthic because it lives on the bottom of the ocean.
The Pulsing Coral feeds on zooplankton and zooxanthellae.
Location of photographs: Aquarium de Paris-Cinéaqua, France
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM