Cladiella cf australis (Macfadyen, 1936)

This species forms small colonies but are sometimes densely packed together to look like one big one spread out over the bottom. Undisturbed, it usually is brownish in color with a fuzzy appearance. When disturbed, the tiny brown polyps retract, leaving a mostly white bumpy lump crowded with small black holes. We have seen these being eaten by the gastropod Ovula ovum, especially juvenile individuals as in the first two photos below.

Created 15 October 2020
Updated 21 October 2023

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