Description
Platyzoanthus mussoides, commonly known as the Green Elephant Ear Mushroom or Ridged Corallimorph, is a unique marine invertebrate belonging to the family Discosomidae. It is the sole representative of the monotypic genus Platyzoanthus. Originally described by William Saville-Kent in 1893 from the Great Barrier Reef, it was previously sometimes referred to as Rhodactis mussoides, though Platyzoanthus mussoides is its accepted scientific classification.
Physical Appearance and Anatomy
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Structure: This corallimorph has a low body column and a highly irregular, wavy, or elongated disc shape.
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Surface and Texture: The oral disc features a distinctly leathery, bumpy, or coarse texture. Its defining trait is a heavily ridged surface; these ridges either radiate outward in straight lines from the center or lock together to form intricate, maze-like or labyrinthine patterns.
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Size: Individual polyps typically measure between 4 to 5 cm (about 2 inches) in diameter. However, because they undergo incomplete asexual division, conjoined "super-polyps" can blend together to span over 25 cm (10 inches) across.
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Mouths and Tentacles: A single organism or interconnected colony often features multiple oral centers (mouths) lined up across the disc, which are usually held upturned. Its tentacles are exceptionally short.
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Coloration: In the wild, they are frequently seen in uniform, patternless shades of drab tan, dark brown, orange-brown, or pinkish-brown. In the aquarium hobby, select specimens can display vibrant green or yellow colors depending on genetics and lighting.
Habitat and Behavior
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Distribution: They are native to the Indo-West Pacific, spanning from East Africa to the Tuamotus, and are frequently spotted in regions like the Great Barrier Reef, Indonesia, and Singapore. They prefer shallow, protected waters where they grow on coral rubble.
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Colony Formation: Platyzoanthus mussoides clusters into clonal aggregations, forming expansive, interconnected mats that can coat large areas of the reef floor.
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Diet: They are mixotrophic, deriving energy from light via symbiotic zooxanthellae as well as trapping planktonic food from the water column.
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According to marine care databases they are considered moderately easy to maintain. They require a tank size of at least 100 liters, plenty of light, and low-to-medium water flow. Aquarium hobbyists should note that exceptionally large elephant ear corallimorphs have a reputation for occasionally trapping and consuming small fish or mobile invertebrates.
