Plerogyra sinuosa
Taxonomical systematics
Scientific name
Plerogyra sinuosa (Dana, 1846)
Common names
Bubble Coral, Bladder Coral
Genus
Plerogyra Milne Edwards and Haime, 1948
Family
Euphyllidae
Order
Scleractinia
Subclass
Zoantharia
Class
Anthozoa
Phylum
Cnidaria
Geological history
Fossil record
None.
Local ecology
Distribution
Oceania, Tropical Western Pacific, Great Barrier Reef, Northern and Western Indian Ocean, Red Sea.
Habitat
Protected reef environments, especially, but not necessarily in turbid water (Veron, 2000)
Biological characteristics
Zooxanthellate
Hermatypic
Two small colonies of Bubble Coral Plerogyra sinuosa on "Steve's Bommie", Ribbon Reef #3, Queensland, Australia.
Bubble Coral P. sinuosa in aquarium.
Close up of Bubble Coral P. sinuosa showing vesicles. The vesicles are modified tentacles and are used to enhance the light capturing abilities of the coral.
Partially closed Bubble Coral P. sinuosa in aquarium.
Bubble Coral P. sinuosa in aquarium at night showing feeding tentacles partially expanded.
Bubble Coral P. sinuosa in aquarium at night showing feeding tentacles fully expanded.
Captive care
Lighting
Tolerant of a wide range of light intensities.
Water flow
Low to moderate current (Borneman, 2001).
Feeding
Shrimp of various sizes; Flying fish roe; Best to feed after dark when the tentacles are fully expanded.
Diseases and other maladies
Brown jelly infections can be brought on by tears and punctures in the bubbles (Borneman, 2001).
References
Borneman E.H. 2001. Aquarium Corals: Selection, Husbandry, and Natural History. Microcosm Ltd, Charlotte, VT. 464pp.
Veron J.E.N. 2000. Corals of the World - Volumes 1, 2, 3. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia. 1382pp.
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