Sun Coral
Tubastraea faulkneri · too-bas-TRY-a FAWK-ner-eye
Not Evaluated
FriendlyVenomous
Superpower
Thrives without sunlight, opening sun-like orange polyps to hunt in the shadows.
At a glance
- Size
- typically 10 cm, up to 30 cm
- Depth
- 1–40 m
Habitat
Shaded ledges, caves and overhangs.
Diet
Catches plankton with its tentacles — it has no symbiotic algae.
Can I eat it?
No — this one is not eaten.
Safety
- Venomous1/10
Mild sting, harmless to people.
Fun facts
- Unlike most corals, it needs no sunlight and lives in caves.
- Its bright orange polyps look like tiny suns.
- It opens mainly at night to feed on plankton.