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Heterotrophic coral

Anthozoans: Anthozoa, Cnidarians: Cnidaria, Faviina, Hexacorals: Hexacorallia, Invertebrates, Marine Life, Rhizangiidae, Stony Corals: Scleractina: Scleractinia, copyrighted, macro, marine, ocean, orange cup coral: Tubastrea coccinea, polyp, underwater, underwater photo

Some corals, such as this orange cup coral, do not host zooxanthellae; a symbiotic photosynthetic algae that helps provide corals with food. Instead, they are heterotrophic, depending completely on capturing drifting zooplankton using their stinging arms as their only means of food.