The Fungiids, also called razor or mushroom corals, are abundant throughout the Marshalls. Except as developing juveniles, they are typically scattered loose on the bottom, and most are single-polyp corals rather than colonies. Different species within the family range in size from tiny disks that can be less than 25mm to large domes that can approach a half meter wide. They are subject to predation from Crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster planci) and cushion (Culcita novaeguinea) starfish, and some species host small, almost parasitic snails in the family Epitoniidae. Like many other corals, species are difficult to positively identify from photos and IDs must remain somewhat tentative.
|