Atlantic+Mushroom+Coral

**Phylum**: Cnidaria
 * Common Name: ** Atlantic Mushroom Coral


 * Scientific Name: // Fungia fungites // **
 * Class: ** Anthozoa


 * Location: **  Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, and found worldwide and most occur in shallow tropical waters.


 * Size: **  2 to 6 in. (5 to 15 cm)


 * Habitat: ** Sediment and rubble
 * Living Requirements: ** The animal feeds at night and the tentacles are withdrawn during the day, leaving the skeleton clearly visible, with the mouth at the center of the disk. The skeleton resembles the gills of a mushroom. Mushroom coral uses its tentacles to turn itself the right way up if it is overturned by waves.


 * Life Cycle: The Atlantic Mushroom Coral lives for years and years; reproduces hundreds of eggs, which causes this coral the branch out **
 * Male and Female Differences: ** Sexual reproduction also occurs when the larger female polyps, usually centrally located in the groups of some species, release eggs and are fertilized by the smaller male polyps along the outer margins of the colony.


 * Human Impact: ** **S** cientists have found by observing the corals how much has been lost at reefs found closer to human habitation.


 * Facts :) **
 * Mushroom corals are a very safe choice for all levels of reef aquarists and excellent start corals for the novice enthusiast interested in mushroom coral care.
 * However, fish, crustaceans and motile invertebrates are completely safe to exist in the same environment as the mushroom corals.
 * The name mushroom is derived directly from their appearance: a short to medium length stem, surmounted by a cap.

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