Brain coral

Brain coral is a common name given to several genera of coral which are characterized by the spheroid shape of their colonies, and by the grooves and channels on their surface, which resemble the folds on the surface of the human brain. Brain corals are in the taxonomic family Faviidae.

Brain corals are found in warm-water coral reefs in all the world's oceans (particularly in the famous coral reef of Australia). They are part of the phylum Cnidaria, in a class called Anthozoa or "sea flowers." The life span of the largest brain corals is 200 years. Colonies can grow as large as 6 or more feet (1.8 m) high.

Brain corals use their tentacles to catch food during the day. At night, the brain corals use their tentacles for protection by wrapping them over the grooves on their surface.The surface is hard, and offers good protection against other fish or even hurricanes.

Like other genera of corals, brain corals feed on small drifting animals and also receive nutrients provided by the algae which live within their tissues.

Branching corals such as staghorn corals grow rapidly in order to gain new territory, but slow-growing brain corals rely on brawn instead. They hold their ground by being solid and strong enough to withstand storms that pound more delicate corals to rubble.