Large Colony of Orange Cup Coral Tubastraea coccinea, Triton Bay, Indonesia - stock photo

Orange Cup Coral Tubastraea coccinea occurs in tropical and subtropical Western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific in a depth range from 1-37m. This large-polyp stony coral is not a reef building species. The coral extends beautiful translucent tentacles at night. Tubastraea coccinea does not contain zooxanthellae in its tissues as many tropical corals do, allowing it to grow in complete darkness as long as it can capture enough food. This large colony has fully open polyps during the day, because they are on the side facing away from the sun under a ledge. Triton Bay, Kaimana Regency, West Papua Province, Indonesia 3°54'50.604 S 134°6'0.828 E at 6m depth