Found throughout the world’s oceans, soft coral species do not have the typical hard calcium carbonate skeletons that make so many seem like leafless branches in the sea. These corals are primarily observed at depths between 5-30 meters, where they continue to thrive even as light grows scarcer. Many divers visit reefs made from hard or stony coral, but soft corals are a treat to observe as their tendrils float in the water column for a planktonic snack. These five soft coral species are just a few incredible examples of the delicate organisms in the reef world.
Pulsing Xenia
Xenia is a soft marine coral that resembles a cross between a delicate flower and a mushroom. This type is unique because it can push or pulse water away from the colony using a constant grabbing motion. This variety is common in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, especially in mildly polluted areas.
Black Sea Rod
Found in the Caribbean and its eponymous homeland, it is most widely distributed from the Florida Keys to the northern coast of Venezuela. The Black Sea Rod resembles a candelabra in its shape and forms a colony of upright branches with few dichotomous forks and many lateral branches. Its colors are primarily yellow or pale brown with darker central stalks.
Red Sea Fingers
This species is a treat for European divers because it is quite localized to the waters along the coasts of France (Bay of Biscay) and Great Britain; however, its vivid and stunning coloration is well worth seeking in its habitat. The lobes are rounded and slender and can reach 30 cm in length, either blood red or rust. The polyps are white with tentacles that lend the coral colony a feathered appearance.
Variable Soft Coral
This soft coral species is extremely variable in coloration, ranging from red, pink, and purple to orange, yellow, or white. The same colony often exhibits more than one color or combination. The species is most common along the Cape Peninsula of the South African coastline. It is usually found attached to hard substrates.
Sunburst Soft Coral
Another African species, this soft coral is typically bright to delicate orange. It can reach a height of up to 15 cm and has a slightly mushroom-like shape. As a unique stress reaction, when threatened, the upper portion of the coral may withdraw into the body column.
