Plate Coral

This was my first plate coral. Notice the radial protective stony plates with the purple tipped polyps sticking out from within the bony body.

As seen from above.

Fully inflated, the central stony body is no longer visible. A moon coral is in the background.

A close-up of the purple tipped polyps: very pretty.

This coral eventually died, starting with a patch on one side (right side here) and slowly growing to encompass the entire specimen. I do not know what the cause was.

My second plate coral, right after it arrived. Notice that the bony plates are less obvious than in the original specimen.

The new specimen inflated. The coloration is very different than the original.

A close-up of the inflated plate, showing a kind of "skirt" and many small polyps.

An unusual situation where the skirt was raised.