Orange cup coral

Orange cup coral (Tubastraea coccinea) belongs to a group of corals known as large-polyp stony corals. This non-reef building coral extends beautiful translucent tentacles at night. Tubastraea coccinea is heterotrophic and does not contain zooxanthellae in its tissues as many tropical corals do, allowing it to grow in complete darkness as long as it can capture enough food.T. coccinea is an invasive coral known for its vibrant sun-like colors, which contrast against the dimly lit areas it inhabits. This organism has a massive geographic range, spreading as far as the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico since its original discovery in 1830. Ballast water is a significant benefactor to their spread, though T. coccinea has also been known to cling to the underside of passing ships. Further, its ability to use sexual and asexual reproduction and lack of reliance on photosynthesis promote its invasive spread. Several natural attempts have been made to control its spread, however, few have been successful. Even so, new discoveries are constantly being made, and recently synthesized compounds may show promise at controlling T. coccinea's invasive spread.