Habitat 
Depth 
Group 
Role WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE?
These octocorals form soft colonies of polyps bearing eight pinnate tentacles. Architecture, size, retractability and polyp organisation differ between members. Some forms pulse actively; presence or absence of pulsation alone does not establish a species identity.WHERE DO THEY LIVE?
The family includes representatives in several tropical reef regions, including the Red Sea. Symbiotic forms use illuminated habitats. Depth distribution depends on species and local conditions; this guide remains scoped to the observed group.WHAT DO THEY EAT?
Endosymbiotic microalgae contribute substantially to the energy supply of many xeniids. Experiments on a Red Sea member show that pulsation promotes water renewal and photosynthesis. This mechanism does not justify assigning a zooplankton-capture diet to every colony.GO FURTHER WITH AMIGANSEAU
Unlock the full profile
Deepen your knowledge with the exclusive chapters and interactive resources included in an AMIGANSEAU licence.
- HOW DO THEY REPRODUCE?
- OUR OBSERVATIONS
Also included in the full profile
- Advanced navigation between description, ecological context, observations and behaviour
- Interactive food chain to explore the species’ feeding relationships
- Infographic and illustrated summary profile
