This mushroom coral, Pseudoanthomastus sp., is a colony with two kinds of polyps (zoids). The autozoids are the big transparent extensions capped by a ring of eight tentacles, whereas the siphonozoids are on the inside, serving to move water in and out and around the colony. Seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition.
Mushroom Coral
Image courtesy of Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022.
Download largest (jpg, 3.4 MB).

This mushroom coral, Pseudoanthomastus sp., is a colony with two kinds of polyps (zoids). The autozoids are the big transparent extensions capped by a ring of eight tentacles, whereas the siphonozoids are on the inside, serving to move water in and out and around the colony. Seen during the Illuminating Biodiversity in Deep Waters of Puerto Rico 2022 expedition.