Locomotion of anthocyathus mushroom corals (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Present experimental work carried out on three species of free-living, solitary mushroom corals such as <i>Fungia paumotensis</i> Stutchbury, 1833, <i>Fungia repanda</i> Dana, 1846 and <i>Ctenactis echinata</i> (Pallas, 1766) to compare their mobility pattern and active influencers for this activity. Smooth under-surfaced mushroom coral with granular costae move faster than echinose type of costae as this resistor against the mobility by gripping of anchorage with the bottom surface. The elongated and oval shaped structure reduces the friction against the bottom surface and expedites migration. Individuals with flat morphology tolerate higher degree of water pressure in comparison with the oval shaped animal and reduce the locomotion rate as a result of higher friction by touching entire costal surface with the bottom.