Would you like to learn about a coral that looks like a cabbage? My animal is the Lobophytum crassum. The common name is Cabbage Leather Coral. However, some other names include Rabbit Ear Leather Coral, Flower Coral, and Lobed Leather Coral.

 

This coral resembles cabbage as its curved shape looks like a large ruffled leaf. Colors range from a gray, pink, cream, brown, green, yellow, and many other colors. The Cabbage Coral is a soft coral and it is unknown for how long they live.

 

The Lobophytum crassum is not the IUCN red list for endangered species. Some parts of the world they can be found are the Red Sea, South Africa, and Madagascar. They have a wide variety of environment which include depths of 20 to 60 feet which is also 6 to 18 meters. They are found near the shore on shallow waters reef flats and turbid lagoons attached to rubble.

 

In the wild they absorb food particles from water and can absorb dissolved organic matter. In captivity they may be fed phyto- and micro- zooplankton but can still absorb nutrients from water. Some animals that eat coral are parrotfish, butterfly fish, and crown-of-thorns starfish. They also have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthelbe which gives it some of its nutrients.

 

The Lobophytum crassum is a soft coral which common name is the Cabbage Leather Coral that has many color variations and can be found in the Red Sea, South Africa, and the Madagascar.

 

Author: Amanda J

Publish: 02/2013

 

Sources: 

"Cabbage Leather Coral, Lobophytum crassum, Soft Coral Information, Rabbit Ear Leather Coral Care and Coral Pictures." Animal-World, Dr. Jungles Exotic Pets, Animals, Aquariums. Extensive encyclopedia of animal information. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. <http://animal-world.com/Aquarium-Coral-Reefs/Cabbage-Leather-Lobophytum>.

 

Encyclopedia Britannica. Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica, 1990. Print.

 

"WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species - Lobophytum crassum von Marenzeller, 1886." WoRMS - World Register of Marine Species. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2013. <http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=209965>.