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Types of soft coral

Soft corals produce a wide range of shapes and colors and fall into two major categories; true corals and octocorals. True corals are scleractinians, which include hard corals. Octocorals are distinguished by their radial symmetry with their polyps having eight tentacles surrounding their mouths.

Soft corals are not as well studied as hard corals, probably because they don’t form reefs, but rather are part of the larger reef ecosystem.

Click on the images below to view a larger image and a description of these corals.

Chironephthya caribaea

This octocoral, a soft coral with eight tentacles, is commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and deep regions of the ocean. Photo credit: NOAA

Chironephthya caribaea

This octocoral, a soft coral with eight tentacles, is commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and deep regions of the ocean. Photo credit: NOAA

Sarcophyton

Sarcophyton is a group of soft corals commonly found from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean. They have a distinctive look, leading to the common name of toadstool leather soft coral. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Sarcophyton

Sarcophyton is a group of soft corals commonly found from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean. They have a distinctive look, leading to the common name of toadstool leather soft coral. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Sarcophyton

Sarcophyton is a group of soft corals commonly found from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The one in this photo has a fuzzy look to it; some people think of mushrooms when viewing Sarcophyton. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Sarcophyton

Sarcophyton is a group of soft corals commonly found from the Red Sea to the Pacific Ocean. The one in this photo has a fuzzy look to it; some people think of mushrooms when viewing Sarcophyton. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Dendronephthya

A species of Dendronephthya, commonly called carnation corals. They are a true soft coral. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Dendronephthya

A species of Dendronephthya, commonly called carnation corals. They are a true soft coral. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Gorgonian

A species of gorgonian found in the Pacific region which does not have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, but rather gathers food using its stinging cells. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Gorgonian

A species of gorgonian found in the Pacific region which does not have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, but rather gathers food using its stinging cells. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Protopalythoa

Protopalythoa is a zoanthid, which is a group of cnidarians. They are not true soft corals. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Protopalythoa

Protopalythoa is a zoanthid, which is a group of cnidarians. They are not true soft corals. Photo credit: Douglas Fenner

Muricea pendula

Muricea pendula is an octocoral (polyps with 8 tentacles) found in the mesophotic and deep waters of Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Photo credit: NOAA

Muricea pendula

Muricea pendula is an octocoral (polyps with 8 tentacles) found in the mesophotic and deep waters of Florida and the northern Gulf of Mexico. Photo credit: NOAA

Corallimorpharians

Corallimorpharians comprise a group of soft corals that are closely related to hard corals. They usually have a short column with a wide mouth area and short tentacles that radiate out from the mouth. Photo credit: Coral Morphologic

Corallimorpharians

Corallimorpharians comprise a group of soft corals that are closely related to hard corals. They usually have a short column with a wide mouth area and short tentacles that radiate out from the mouth. Photo credit: Coral Morphologic

Sea fans

Common or purple sea fans, Gorgonia ventalina, are a type of octocoral in the Gorgonian family. They are commonly found throughout Florida and the Caribbean. Photo credit: NOAA

Sea fans

Common or purple sea fans, Gorgonia ventalina, are a type of octocoral in the Gorgonian family. They are commonly found throughout Florida and the Caribbean. Photo credit: NOAA

Corals Topics

Welcome What are corals? What is Zooxanthellae? How do corals grow? How do coral reefs form? Where are corals found? How do corals reproduce? Why are coral reefs important? What are the major threats to corals? - Climate change - Pollution - Diseases - Fishing impacts What are the other threats to corals? Protecting corals - Laws and partnerships Protecting corals - Protected places Restoring corals

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Last updated:

08/21/24

Author: NOAA

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