Coral feeding in the ocean current is beautiful and...

Soft corals are a beautiful and essential part of a healthy reef. They are crucial to the ecosystem because they support life and supply food to an endless number of marine animals. This xenia coral is unique among the corals because it has hand-like appendages that it uses to pulse and grope for plankton and baby brine shrimp on which they feed. But xenia coral is also unique because it has a symbiotic relationship with an algae that grows within it. This algae relies on the coral for structure and for protection and the coral benefits from the algae's ability to transform light into energy through photosynthesis. Xenia coral is mesmerizing as it moves rhythmically to draw food from the ocean.