Fungiidae

Fungiidae
	Close-up of Fungia scutaria
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Cnidaria
Class:	Hexacorallia
Order:	Scleractinia
Suborder:	Fungiina
Family:	Fungiidae
Genera
	See text.

Fungiidae (/[invalid input: 'icon']fəŋˈɡiː.[invalid input: 'ɨ']diː/) is a family of Cnidaria. It contains thirteen extant genera.

Characteristics

Species are generally solitary marine animals that are capable of benthic locomotion.^[1]^[2] These corals often appear to be bleached or dead.^[3] In most genera, a single polyp emerges from the center of the skeleton to feed at night. Most species remain fully detached from the substrate in adulthood. Some are immobile as well as colonial.^[4]^[5] Mushroom corals are also able to change sex.^[6]

Genera

Notable species

One fungiid species, Heliofungia actiniformis ("anemone coral"), can be easily mistaken for a sea anemone [actiniarian] because its tentacles remain visible during the day.^[4]
Fungia spp. have a commensal pipefish, Siokunichthys nigrolineatus.^[7]
Heliofungia actiniformis provides shelter to some fish species (Gobiidae and Labridae).^[8]
Some fungiids can be elongate and look like a sea cucumber (stichopodid).
Some fungiids (Fungia scruposa) have been observed eating jellyfish.^[9]

Importance to Humans

Members of the family Fungiidae are not of any commercial importance, but are collected for the aquarium trade and are sold as "plate corals".

Notes

^ Halstead, Bob. 2000. Coral Sea Reef Guide. Sea Challengers, Danville, CA, USA.
^ "The Best Livestock For Your Reef Aquarium: Plate Corals, Family Fungiidae, Pt. 1". Wetwebmedia.com. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ "Stony Corals From The Family Fungiidae, A.J. Nilsen, October 1997, Aquarium.Net". Reefs.org (Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet). Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ ^a ^b "BioLib - Heliofungia actiniformis (Long tentacle plate coral)". Biolib.cz. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ "Fungioidea". Tolweb.org. 2002-10-28. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ "Stressed Female Mushroom Corals Become Male". Discovery Channel. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2010-06-03.
^ "Siokunichthys nigrolineatus". Fishbase. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
^ Bos, Arthur R (2012). "Fishes (Gobiidae and Labridae) associated with the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in the Philippines". Coral Reefs. 31: 133. doi:10.1007/s00338-011-0834-3.
^ "Predatory coral eats jellyfish". BBC News. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-13.

Gallery

Heliofungia sp. looks similar to a sea anemone.
Fungia sp. in Papua New Guinea.
Herpolitha limax in Micronesia can appear bleached and also resemble a sea cucumber.
Fungia sp.

External links

[1] Halstead, Bob. 2000. Coral Sea Reef Guide. Sea Challengers, Danville, CA, USA.

[2] "The Best Livestock For Your Reef Aquarium: Plate Corals, Family Fungiidae, Pt. 1". Wetwebmedia.com. Retrieved 2009-02-22.

[3] "Stony Corals From The Family Fungiidae, A.J. Nilsen, October 1997, Aquarium.Net". Reefs.org (Where Reefkeeping Begins on the Internet). Retrieved 2009-02-22.

[biolib1-4] "BioLib - Heliofungia actiniformis (Long tentacle plate coral)". Biolib.cz. Retrieved 2009-02-22.

[5] "Fungioidea". Tolweb.org. 2002-10-28. Retrieved 2009-02-22.

[6] "Stressed Female Mushroom Corals Become Male". Discovery Channel. 2009-03-30. Retrieved 2010-06-03.

[7] "Siokunichthys nigrolineatus". Fishbase. Retrieved 2009-02-22.

[8] Bos, Arthur R (2012). "Fishes (Gobiidae and Labridae) associated with the mushroom coral Heliofungia actiniformis (Scleractinia: Fungiidae) in the Philippines". Coral Reefs. 31: 133. doi:10.1007/s00338-011-0834-3.

[9] "Predatory coral eats jellyfish". BBC News. 2009-11-13. Retrieved 2009-11-13.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]