Description
Cynarina lacrymalis, commonly known as the flat cup coral, solitary cup coral, or cat's eye coral, is a large, solitary stony coral. It is cylindrical, with a diameter up to 10 cm and a height of 8 cm, and has a single polyp nestled in a corallite. The corallite is a stony cup that the coral has secreted.
Key Features:
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Shape and Size: Cylindrical, with a round or oval upper surface.
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Corallite: A stony cup secreted by the coral.
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Attachment: Usually fixed to rock but can be embedded in sand or unattached.
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Color: Various colors, including pale brown, green, pinkish, and bluish, depending on the species of zooxanthellae present.
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Tentacles: Extended only at night.
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Mantle: Translucent and inflated with water during the day, allowing visibility of the septa.
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Habitat: Protected reef environments and deep sandy substrates.
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Abundance: Not common, but conspicuous.
