Giant Black Coral Whip

Description:

Also known as Spiral Coral, Spiral Wire Coral, Black Coral Sea Whip, Spiral Sea Whip, Spiral Whip Coral, Black Wire Coral, Deep-water Wire Coral and Coiled Coral. They feed on plankton, and can grow up to about 3m in length. They are called Black Corals because the inner skeleton is black, over this they have a fleshy skin that varies in colour with the different corals. The polyps have six tentacles which although cannot be retracted, may shrink if disturbed. A number of other animals live in the branches, e.g., Winged pearl oyster (Pteria penquin), Cock's comb oyster (Lopha cristagalli), Black coral shrimp (Periclimenes sp.).

Habitat:

Found in rocky reefs on slopes, terraces and dropoffs. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.

Notes:

Personally, I think of these coral as Underwater Telephone Cables.