Orange Coral?

[Steve_C]

This picture was shot with a flash in 45 ft of water out at Frying Pan Tower in NC. At first glance it was an orange brain coral about the size of a baseball. Closer inspection of the photo shows the polyps are in the white areas and the orange bulges out. I have only seen one of these in NC. Not even sure if it is one organism or one being attacked by something else.

Very pretty though.

Any ideas.

 

[Karibelle]

The orange may be an encrusting sponge, covering the coral. It is very pretty.

 

[Steve_C]

The orange may be an encrusting sponge, covering the coral. It is very pretty.

Normally I think of encrusting as creeping in from the side but you are likely right. Perhaps the pattern is formed by the coral fighting through and repelling the sponge?

 

[KeithG]

Look up sponge boring zooanthid.

 

[Karibelle]

That looks like a winner.

 

[Steve_C]

That is wild. I had it backwards. It is not a sponge attacking a coral. It is parasitic zooanthids on an orange sponge.

 

[Garth]

Could it be aptasia? They occur and rapidly multiply in aquariums and the will eventually kill coral