Very Large Cup Coral Turbinaria reniformus, Solomon Islands

A member of the family Dendrophylliidae this is a hermatypic coral-meaning it lives in symbiotic relationship with a certain form of algae. The genus Turbinaria contains at least 10 true species and is widely distributed from the Red Sea to the central Pacific. Hermatypic corals grow two to three times faster than ahermatypic corals, with their symbiotic algae providing them with additional food through photosynthesis. The present specimen is exceptionally large for the species and is in an excellent state of preservation. Height 16in - Estimate: $500 - 700

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Bonhams. Natural History. Los Angeles, 2 Dec 2007